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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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: sharp · suit · mug · cell · saw · rush · ball · coach

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. He was locked up in a ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. cell — in biology
  3. ball — a dance
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. cell — a phone
  6. suit — clothes
  7. cell — in a prison
  8. ball — a great time
  9. rush — hurry
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. suit — in cards
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. saw — the tool
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. mug — a face
  17. mug — a cup
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. suit — to fit
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. mug — to rob
  22. sharp — clever
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. saw — the tool

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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