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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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. row — to paddle
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. rush — hurry
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. hand — help
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. fine — high quality
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. hand — in cards
  21. row — a line
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. fine — all right

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