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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: mouse · sharp · board · coach · can · spell · wound · rush

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — a tin
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. spell — letters
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. rush — hurry
  14. can — to be able to
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. spell — magic
  17. wound — an injury
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. wound — an injury
  20. spell — a short time
  21. sharp — clever
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. board — a committee

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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