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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: spell · coach · ruler · present · cell · cabinet · sharp · nail

  1. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. cell — in biology
  8. spell — magic
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. present — a gift
  12. spell — a short time
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. sharp — clever
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. spell — letters
  21. present — the time now
  22. cell — a phone
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. ruler — for measuring

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