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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: mark · rest · fall · lean · coach · safe · pitcher · rush

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. rest — what's left
  3. mark — a trace
  4. rest — a break
  5. fall — to drop
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. rest — what's left
  10. lean — thin
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mark — a grade
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. lean — to bend
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. rush — hurry
  20. fall — the season
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. fall — to drop
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. rush — a thrill

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