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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
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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: drill · coach · board · nail · kid · perch · charge · sharp

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. drill — the tool
  4. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  5. drill — a practice
  6. perch — the fish
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. charge — a price
  12. sharp — clever
  13. charge — in control
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. drill — army training
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. kid — to tease
  19. board — a committee
  20. kid — child
  21. board — to get on
  22. charge — electricity
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. coach — a trainer

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