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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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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 · mark · wind · safe · rock · can · cell · bass

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. He was locked up in a ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. cell — in biology
  4. mark — a grade
  5. rock — a stone
  6. cell — in a prison
  7. mark — a trace
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bass — the fish
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. can — a tin
  13. bass — low music
  14. wind — to turn a key
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. cell — a phone
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. wind — moving air
  20. can — a tin
  21. rock — music
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. can — to be able to
  24. wind — moving air

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