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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.

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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: fine · ground · nail · staff · rest · charge · coach · suit

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. ground — the earth
  3. ground — a position
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. charge — in control
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. ground — crushed
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. fine — high quality
  11. charge — a price
  12. charge — electricity
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. rest — what's left
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. suit — to fit
  17. rest — a break
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. suit — clothes
  20. staff — employees
  21. suit — in cards
  22. rest — what's left
  23. staff — a stick
  24. staff — employees

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