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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: rule · track · saw · tube · bore · coach · safe · court

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. tube — the underground
  6. bore — to drill
  7. saw — the tool
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. bore — to tire
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. track — to keep track
  12. tube — a container
  13. saw — the tool
  14. track — a song
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. rule — to rule out
  17. court — of law
  18. court — of a king
  19. rule — government
  20. court — for sport
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. track — a path
  24. rule — a law

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