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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: foot · coach · bass · cell · last · safe · patient · cue

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. last — finally
  6. foot — a measure
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. last — to go on
  9. bass — the fish
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. cue — a hint
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. last — final
  18. cue — for pool
  19. cell — in biology
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. cell — a phone
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. bass — low music
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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