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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: plane · bass · date · mate · land · object · toast · coach

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. object — a thing
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. mate — to breed
  9. land — a country
  10. object — an aim
  11. land — to come down
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. bass — the fish
  16. mate — a friend
  17. date — the fruit
  18. mate — a partner
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. bass — low music
  21. toast — bread
  22. plane — a tool
  23. object — to protest
  24. land — ground

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