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

Word bank: fine · object · rest · toast · safe · deal · coach · wound

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. deal — to handle
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. fine — high quality
  8. rest — a break
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. fine — all right
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. object — to protest
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. object — a thing
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. rest — what's left
  20. wound — an injury
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. rest — what's left
  23. toast — bread
  24. wound — an injury

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