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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.

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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: nail · staff · cap · deal · suit · wound · sharp · fan

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. cap — a lid
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. wound — an injury
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. wound — an injury
  8. staff — a stick
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. deal — to handle
  15. cap — a hat
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. cap — of ice
  18. suit — clothes
  19. staff — employees
  20. suit — to fit
  21. suit — in cards
  22. staff — employees
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. deal — a big deal

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