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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 120 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: can · sharp · coach · arm · ruler · root · bound · nail

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  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. can — to be able to
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. root — of a word
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. root — the cause
  10. can — a tin
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. bound — obliged
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. bound — tied together
  17. sharp — clever
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. bound — certain
  20. root — of a plant
  21. can — a tin
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. arm — part of the body
  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