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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 120 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: key · face · safe · mine · track · mate · wave · coach

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. track — to keep track
  3. key — for a lock
  4. mate — a partner
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. key — in music
  11. track — a song
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. face — part of the head
  15. track — a path
  16. face — to confront
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. key — the most important part
  20. face — to point toward
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mate — a friend
  23. mine — for digging
  24. mate — to breed

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