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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
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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: tube · board · bound · pass · spell · coach · safe · lash

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bound — obliged
  7. spell — a short time
  8. board — to get on
  9. pass — a permit
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. spell — magic
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. tube — a container
  15. bound — tied together
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. bound — certain
  18. tube — the underground
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. board — a committee
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. coach — a trainer

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