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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.

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: spell · safe · kid · leaves · coach · prune · wave · pass

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. spell — a short time
  4. pass — a permit
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. kid — to tease
  7. prune — to trim
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. spell — letters
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. prune — to trim
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. spell — magic
  16. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. kid — child
  24. leaves — lets stay

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