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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
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: coach · suit · squash · tube · capital · lash · safe · pass

  1. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. capital — a city
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. suit — clothes
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. suit — to fit
  9. squash — to crush
  10. tube — the underground
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. capital — a big letter
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. squash — the sport
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. tube — a container
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. pass — a permit
  24. suit — in cards

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