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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: pitcher · coach · saw · stick · fan · safe · trunk · can

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. saw — the tool
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. can — a tin
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. saw — the tool
  22. can — to be able to
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. can — a tin

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