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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

Word bank: coach · fan · perch · ruler · can · safe · lash · mine

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. mine — for digging
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. perch — the fish
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. can — a tin
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. can — to be able to
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. can — a tin
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. safe — out of danger

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