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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.

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: racket · object · spring · key · row · hide · sharp · cue

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. row — to paddle
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. key — for a lock
  6. spring — of water
  7. cue — a hint
  8. cue — a signal
  9. object — to protest
  10. object — an aim
  11. spring — the season
  12. sharp — clever
  13. spring — a coil
  14. row — a line
  15. key — in music
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. cue — for pool
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. key — the most important part
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. hide — animal skin

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