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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 · cue · fine · bank · sharp · bowl · wave · nail

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bank — for money
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. cue — a hint
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. cue — a signal
  10. bank — of a river
  11. sharp — clever
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. cue — for pool
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. fine — all right
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. fine — high quality
  24. bank — for money

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