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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: saw · tube · bay · safe · rush · nail · chip · coach

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. tube — a container
  8. chip — for betting
  9. saw — the tool
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. saw — the tool
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. tube — the underground
  16. chip — to eat
  17. rush — hurry
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. nail — on a finger

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