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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: cap · racket · coach · firm · drill · bay · sharp · safe

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. drill — a practice
  6. drill — the tool
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. firm — steady
  10. firm — decided
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. cap — a lid
  15. cap — of ice
  16. sharp — clever
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. firm — a company
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. cap — a hat
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. drill — army training

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