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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: sharp · cabinet · mine · safe · can · stock · coach · bark

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. bark — to shout
  4. stock — shares
  5. can — a tin
  6. sharp — clever
  7. can — to be able to
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. mine — for digging
  19. can — a tin
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. stock — goods
  24. safe — out of danger

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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