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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: sharp · suit · lie · toast · board · pop · wound · staff

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. suit — clothes
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. pop — soda
  5. staff — employees
  6. suit — to fit
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pop — to visit
  9. wound — an injury
  10. toast — bread
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. board — a committee
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. lie — to recline
  15. wound — an injury
  16. suit — in cards
  17. staff — a stick
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. board — to get on
  21. sharp — clever
  22. pop — music
  23. staff — employees
  24. lie — an untruth

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