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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.

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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: race · safe · spell · hide · coach · rest · firm · leaves

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  19. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. rest — what's left
  4. rest — a break
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. spell — letters
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. race — the arms race
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. firm — steady
  16. spell — magic
  17. firm — decided
  18. race — humankind
  19. race — a contest
  20. rest — what's left
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. spell — a short time
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. firm — a company

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