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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: lie · board · bulb · deal · arm · sharp · coach · cabinet

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. bulb — for light
  7. board — to get on
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. board — a committee
  11. bulb — for light
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. sharp — clever
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. deal — to handle
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. lie — to recline
  24. cabinet — ministers

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