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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 120 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: staff · fine · rock · plane · coach · rule · can · pitcher

  1. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. fine — high quality
  6. staff — a stick
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. rule — to rule out
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rock — music
  11. plane — a tool
  12. rule — government
  13. can — a tin
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. can — a tin
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. staff — employees
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. can — to be able to
  23. fine — all right
  24. staff — employees

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