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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
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: season · tube · nail · key · pitch · plane · object · coach

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. pitch — completely
  3. plane — a tool
  4. season — in sport
  5. tube — a container
  6. key — the most important part
  7. object — a thing
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. tube — the underground
  16. object — an aim
  17. season — of the year
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. key — in music
  23. object — to protest
  24. key — for a lock

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