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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: mate · object · foot · game · fan · coach · plane · suit

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. suit — in cards
  4. suit — clothes
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. mate — a friend
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. game — a match
  10. foot — a measure
  11. object — a thing
  12. mate — to breed
  13. object — to protest
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. object — an aim
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. game — wild animals
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. mate — a partner
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. plane — a tool
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. suit — to fit

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