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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: coach · fine · vault · safe · present · shower · roll · ground

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. ground — crushed
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. present — the time now
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. roll — a cake
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. vault — a safe
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. shower — to wash
  15. present — there
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. fine — high quality
  18. ground — a position
  19. shower — rain
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. present — a gift
  23. ground — the earth
  24. fine — all right

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