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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. mine — for digging
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. drill — the tool
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. stand — to bear
  12. drill — army training
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. wax — to grow
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. drill — a practice
  24. ruler — for measuring

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