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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: fan · stand · mouse · safe · deal · current · coach · row

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. stand — to bear
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. current — electric
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. current — happening now
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. row — to paddle
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. deal — to handle
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. row — a line
  24. current — of water

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