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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: degree · safe · bank · rash · fan · bark · coach · can

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  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. rash — on the skin
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. bark — to shout
  4. bank — for money
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. can — a tin
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. can — a tin
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. rash — a series
  13. degree — an amount
  14. bank — for money
  15. rash — hasty
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. degree — temperature
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. bank — of a river
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. can — to be able to
  23. degree — from a university
  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