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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 · coach · pass · race · can · track · drill · spring

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. race — humankind
  4. drill — army training
  5. drill — the tool
  6. can — a tin
  7. spring — the season
  8. track — to keep track
  9. spring — a coil
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. can — a tin
  14. track — a song
  15. spring — of water
  16. pass — a permit
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. drill — a practice
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. race — the arms race
  21. can — to be able to
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. race — a contest

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