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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: plane · club · coach · sharp · bank · can · leaves · mug

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. can — to be able to
  4. can — a tin
  5. mug — a face
  6. club — a group
  7. bank — for money
  8. club — for dancing
  9. bank — of a river
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. mug — to rob
  13. sharp — clever
  14. club — for golf
  15. plane — a tool
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. can — a tin
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. bank — for money
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. leaves — lets stay

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