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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: calf · safe · object · hide · coach · cue · lean · tube

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. tube — the underground
  3. cue — for pool
  4. tube — a container
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. cue — a hint
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. object — a thing
  11. lean — to bend
  12. object — to protest
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. cue — a signal
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. object — an aim
  24. lean — thin

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