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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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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. suit — in cards
  6. pop — to visit
  7. tube — a container
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. tube — the underground
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. sharp — clever
  12. deal — to handle
  13. suit — clothes
  14. pop — music
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. pop — soda
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. board — to get on
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. suit — to fit
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. board — a committee

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