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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.

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
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: suit · wax · net · hide · arm · fine · fork · coach

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. net — in sport
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. net — after costs
  8. wax — to grow
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. fine — all right
  13. suit — in cards
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. suit — clothes
  17. fine — high quality
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. net — for catching
  21. suit — to fit
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. arm — part of the body

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