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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.

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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: ruler · race · saw · wave · pitcher · arm · coach · safe

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  4. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. saw — the tool
  3. race — a contest
  4. race — the arms race
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. race — humankind
  10. saw — the tool
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. coach — a trainer

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