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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 120 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: track · stand · rash · ground · coach · pitcher · craft · safe

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. track — a song
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. ground — a position
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. craft — boats
  10. track — a path
  11. craft — a skill
  12. track — to keep track
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. stand — to bear
  15. rash — a series
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. ground — the earth
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. rash — hasty
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. ground — crushed
  24. pitcher — a jug

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