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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. staff — employees
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. board — to get on
  7. sharp — clever
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. plane — a tool
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. board — a committee
  16. staff — a stick
  17. staff — employees
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. file — a line of people
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. file — a tool
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. sharp — with an edge

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