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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · firm · safe · sharp · arm · bark · coach · key

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. key — the most important part
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. firm — steady
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. firm — a company
  14. key — in music
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. firm — decided
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. sharp — clever
  24. key — for a lock

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