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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
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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: can · firm · safe · coach · fan · hide · wax · toast

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  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. toast — a drink to someone
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. firm — a company
  4. firm — steady
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. can — a tin
  10. wax — to grow
  11. can — to be able to
  12. toast — bread
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. firm — decided
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. can — a tin
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  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