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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: coach · safe · key · capital · roll · fall · calf · hide

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. key — in music
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. roll — a list
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. capital — a big letter
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. key — for a lock
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. fall — to drop
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. key — the most important part
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. capital — a city
  21. roll — a cake
  22. fall — to drop
  23. capital — money
  24. fall — the season

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