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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: firm · file · safe · coach · leaves · row · fan · bulb

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. firm — steady
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bulb — for light
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. file — a tool
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. file — a line of people
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. row — to paddle
  18. firm — decided
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. file — a document
  21. bulb — for light
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. firm — a company
  24. row — a quarrel

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