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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
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: snap · stem · saw · roll · drill · coach · safe · bank

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. roll — a list
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. drill — a practice
  6. drill — the tool
  7. roll — a cake
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. bank — for money
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. bank — of a river
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. stem — to come from
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bank — for money
  21. drill — army training
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. snap — to click

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