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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: fine · date · staff · mate · wave · sharp · fork · suit

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. staff — employees
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. mate — to breed
  6. staff — a stick
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. mate — a friend
  9. suit — in cards
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. suit — clothes
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. staff — employees
  14. sharp — clever
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. suit — to fit
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. fine — all right
  19. mate — a partner
  20. date — the fruit
  21. fork — in a road
  22. fine — high quality
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. date — on the calendar

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