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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 116 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: safe · sharp · tube · chair · coach · track · can · bear

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. chair — a professorship
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. can — to be able to
  6. can — a tin
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. sharp — clever
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. can — a tin
  15. track — a path
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bear — the animal
  18. bear — the animal
  19. tube — a container
  20. track — to keep track
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. track — a song
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. chair — a leader

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