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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: snap · plane · cabinet · sharp · dip · swing · season · march

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. swing — in golf
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. swing — music
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. sharp — clever
  12. snap — to click
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. season — of the year
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. march — the month
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. march — music
  20. dip — to sink
  21. season — in sport
  22. plane — a tool
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. swing — to play on

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