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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 116 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. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. object — a thing
  3. suit — to fit
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. staff — employees
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. sharp — clever
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. staff — a stick
  14. suit — in cards
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. object — to protest
  18. suit — clothes
  19. mine — for digging
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. fork — in a road
  23. staff — employees
  24. object — an aim

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