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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: suit · hide · arm · stick · nail · coach · root · spell

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. suit — in cards
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. root — of a word
  14. spell — magic
  15. spell — letters
  16. suit — clothes
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. root — the cause
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. root — of a plant
  23. suit — to fit
  24. spell — a short time

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