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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 · saw · rock · root · roll · safe · object · tube

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. object — a thing
  4. root — the cause
  5. object — an aim
  6. saw — the tool
  7. tube — the underground
  8. tube — a container
  9. rock — a stone
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. roll — a list
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. object — to protest
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rock — music
  18. root — of a plant
  19. roll — a cake
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. root — of a word
  24. coach — a trainer

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