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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 116 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: degree · sharp · ball · hide · coach · board · mark · key

  1. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  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. degree — temperature
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. degree — from a university
  4. mark — a grade
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. ball — a great time
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. degree — an amount
  10. key — in music
  11. key — for a lock
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. ball — a dance
  15. board — a committee
  16. key — the most important part
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. board — to get on
  19. sharp — clever
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. mark — a trace
  23. hide — to keep secret
  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