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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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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. stand — to bear
  7. squash — to crush
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. wax — to grow
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. chip — for betting
  19. chip — to eat
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. squash — the sport

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