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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 120 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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. rock — music
  3. current — electric
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. race — a contest
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. race — humankind
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. race — the arms race
  17. current — happening now
  18. current — of water
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. rock — a stone
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. trunk — of a tree

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