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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: track · plane · mark · fine · coach · squash · spell · vault

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. fine — all right
  6. plane — a tool
  7. mark — a trace
  8. squash — to crush
  9. track — a path
  10. squash — the sport
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. mark — a grade
  14. track — to keep track
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. vault — a safe
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. track — a song
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. spell — a short time
  22. spell — letters
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. fine — high quality

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