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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: nail · kick · suit · chip · spring · spell · pit · coach

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. spring — the season
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. spell — magic
  5. chip — to eat
  6. spring — a coil
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. spell — letters
  10. spring — of water
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. suit — clothes
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. pit — a hole
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. spell — a short time
  17. suit — to fit
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. kick — in football
  20. pit — in a race
  21. chip — for betting
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. suit — in cards

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