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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. rash — a series
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. suit — in cards
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. sharp — clever
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. mark — a trace
  13. rule — government
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. plane — a tool
  17. suit — clothes
  18. rule — to rule out
  19. rule — a law
  20. suit — to fit
  21. mark — a grade
  22. rash — hasty
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. sharp — exactly

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