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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
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: safe · coach · board · spell · patient · cold · cabinet · jam

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The water is too ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. cold — an illness
  6. board — a committee
  7. cold — the Cold War
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cold — not warm
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. spell — letters
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. board — to get on
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. spell — a short time
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. coach — a trainer

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