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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: coach · pass · bass · fall · safe · can · bear · arm

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. can — a tin
  3. fall — to drop
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. can — to be able to
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. bass — low music
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. bear — the animal
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. fall — to drop
  14. can — a tin
  15. pass — a permit
  16. fall — the season
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. bass — the fish
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. bear — the animal
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. safe — out of danger

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