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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: plane · mark · safe · pop · lash · swing · face · coach

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. face — to confront
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. face — part of the head
  9. pop — to visit
  10. mark — a trace
  11. face — to point toward
  12. swing — music
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. pop — soda
  15. mark — a grade
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. plane — a tool
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. pop — music
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. swing — in golf
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. swing — to play on

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