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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.

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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: safe · mark · coach · last · march · field · plane · foot

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. mark — a trace
  3. plane — a tool
  4. last — final
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. march — music
  8. foot — a measure
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. last — finally
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. field — farmland
  13. last — to go on
  14. mark — a grade
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. march — the month
  17. field — a subject
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. field — for sport
  24. march — the month

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