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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: foot · field · safe · key · bore · coach · branch · chair

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. key — the most important part
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. foot — a measure
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. key — in music
  8. key — for a lock
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. branch — a division
  12. bore — to drill
  13. field — a subject
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. field — farmland
  19. bore — to tire
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. chair — a leader
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. field — for sport

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