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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: land · mark · roll · content · can · safe · lean · coach

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. can — to be able to
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. mark — a trace
  5. land — ground
  6. can — a tin
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. land — to come down
  10. can — a tin
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. land — a country
  14. roll — a cake
  15. content — the amount
  16. lean — to bend
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. content — happy
  19. lean — thin
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. mark — a grade
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. roll — a list

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