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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: game · coach · plane · wound · safe · staff · bore · stand

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. staff — a stick
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. stand — to bear
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. game — a match
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. wound — an injury
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. wound — an injury
  14. game — wild animals
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. bore — to drill
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. staff — employees
  21. plane — a tool
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. staff — employees

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