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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: plane · coach · rest · club · lean · lash · sharp · rush

  1. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for golf
  2. plane — a tool
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. rest — a break
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. rest — what's left
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. rest — what's left
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. rush — hurry
  11. club — a group
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. lean — thin
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. lean — to bend
  20. sharp — clever
  21. club — for dancing
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. coach — a trainer

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