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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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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 · toast · safe · stem · staff · cap · squash · row

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. staff — a stick
  4. row — to paddle
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. toast — bread
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. cap — a lid
  10. stem — to come from
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. staff — employees
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. staff — employees
  16. squash — the sport
  17. squash — to crush
  18. row — a line
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. cap — a hat
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. cap — of ice

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