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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: can · lie · game · wound · coach · mark · safe · fine

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. mark — a trace
  6. wound — an injury
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wound — an injury
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. can — to be able to
  11. fine — all right
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. lie — to recline
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. can — a tin
  16. mark — a grade
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. game — a match
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. game — wild animals
  24. fine — high quality

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