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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: cue · bulb · sharp · staff · coach · bank · fan · bay

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. sharp — clever
  3. bank — for money
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. bank — of a river
  6. cue — a hint
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. cue — for pool
  9. staff — employees
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. staff — a stick
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. staff — employees
  19. cue — a signal
  20. bank — for money
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. bulb — for light
  24. sharp — with an edge

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