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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: lean · clip · jam · racket · can · patient · coach · plane

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  16. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. plane — a tool
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. can — a tin
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. clip — a video
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. can — a tin
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. clip — to cut
  16. clip — for paper
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. can — to be able to
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. lean — thin
  24. lean — to bend

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