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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
468
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 · can · snap · prune · bulb · face · calf · safe

  1. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. face — part of the head
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bulb — for light
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. face — to confront
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. prune — to trim
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. face — to point toward
  15. can — a tin
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. can — a tin
  18. snap — to click
  19. bulb — for light
  20. prune — to trim
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. calf — a young animal

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