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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.

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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: sharp · coach · rock · firm · pit · suit · present · nail

  1. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. suit — clothes
  4. firm — decided
  5. rock — music
  6. sharp — clever
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. present — the time now
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. rock — a stone
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. firm — a company
  13. pit — a hole
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. suit — in cards
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. present — there
  18. suit — to fit
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. firm — steady
  24. pit — in a race

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