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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.

Make a worksheet

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: date · swing · coach · plane · wound · wave · safe · spell

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. spell — magic
  3. date — the fruit
  4. spell — a short time
  5. wound — an injury
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. plane — a tool
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. wound — an injury
  11. swing — to play on
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. spell — letters
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. swing — in golf
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. swing — music
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. safe — a strongbox

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