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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: lie · present · cap · plane · coach · pound · foot · nail

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. present — the time now
  4. plane — a tool
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. cap — a hat
  13. present — there
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. lie — to recline
  16. foot — a measure
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. cap — of ice
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. cap — a lid
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. present — a gift
  24. pound — a weight

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