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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: nail · march · plane · squash · press · cell · bound · coach

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. squash — the sport
  4. press — newspapers
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. plane — a tool
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. march — the month
  12. press — to push
  13. bound — tied together
  14. cell — a phone
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. march — the month
  17. squash — to crush
  18. cell — in biology
  19. bound — obliged
  20. march — music
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. bound — certain
  24. press — a publisher

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