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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. can — a tin
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. cell — in biology
  6. can — a tin
  7. fine — all right
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. hand — in cards
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. fine — high quality
  16. can — to be able to
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. hand — help
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. cell — a phone
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. plane — a tool

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