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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: cap · stand · coach · toast · court · saw · pitcher · safe

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. saw — the tool
  4. court — of law
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. stand — to bear
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. cap — a lid
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. court — for sport
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. cap — a hat
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. toast — bread
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. court — of a king
  23. cap — of ice
  24. saw — the tool

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