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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: saw · dip · nail · coach · key · pitcher · suit · row

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. suit — in cards
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. key — the most important part
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. dip — to sink
  10. suit — clothes
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. row — a line
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. key — for a lock
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. saw — the tool
  18. saw — the tool
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. suit — to fit
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. row — to paddle
  24. key — in music

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