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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.

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: bulb · coach · fine · snap · cabinet · sharp · ruler · fall

  1. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. fall — to drop
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. fine — all right
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. fall — to drop
  8. snap — to click
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. bulb — for light
  11. sharp — clever
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. bulb — for light
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. fine — high quality
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. fall — the season
  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