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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: mug · swing · root · coach · safe · racket · roll · sharp

  1. David sat on the ________________.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — to play on
  2. swing — music
  3. mug — a cup
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. roll — a cake
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. root — the cause
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. roll — a list
  11. sharp — clever
  12. root — of a plant
  13. swing — in golf
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. mug — to rob
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. root — of a word
  24. mug — a face

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