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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: swing · jam · coach · saw · game · plane · ball · pass

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. swing — to play on
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. swing — music
  6. plane — a tool
  7. saw — the tool
  8. game — wild animals
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. pass — a permit
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. swing — in golf
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. ball — a great time
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. saw — the tool
  20. ball — a dance
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. game — a match

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