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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: tube · court · deal · root · coach · plane · pass · racket

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. tube — the underground
  3. plane — a tool
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. deal — to handle
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. court — for sport
  10. pass — a permit
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. tube — a container
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. root — of a plant
  15. root — the cause
  16. root — of a word
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. court — of a king
  21. court — of law
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. deal — a big deal

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com