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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.

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: coach · spring · staff · safe · sharp · nail · bay · bound

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. spring — the season
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. spring — of water
  13. staff — employees
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. staff — a stick
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bound — tied together
  18. sharp — clever
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. bound — certain
  21. staff — employees
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. bound — obliged

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