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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: racket · coach · suit · lean · rule · sharp · lash · hand

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. rule — to rule out
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. hand — in cards
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. rule — government
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. rule — a law
  15. hand — help
  16. lean — to bend
  17. suit — in cards
  18. lean — thin
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. sharp — clever
  23. suit — clothes
  24. suit — to fit

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