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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: snap · mark · file · coach · deal · fan · mug · safe

  1. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. deal — to handle
  3. snap — to click
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. file — a document
  6. mug — a cup
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. mug — a face
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. mark — a trace
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. file — a line of people
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. mark — a grade
  21. file — a tool
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. mug — to rob

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