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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.

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: rock · safe · coach · current · staff · lash · cap · nail

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. cap — a lid
  4. cap — a hat
  5. staff — a stick
  6. staff — employees
  7. current — of water
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. staff — employees
  14. current — electric
  15. rock — a stone
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. current — happening now
  22. cap — of ice
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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