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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: safe · suit · coach · roll · game · swing · leaves · date

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. suit — in cards
  3. game — wild animals
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. roll — a list
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. suit — to fit
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. suit — clothes
  14. swing — in golf
  15. swing — to play on
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. swing — music
  19. game — a match
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. roll — a cake
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. safe — out of danger

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