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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: mug · sharp · file · bore · snap · nail · suit · lie

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. lie — to recline
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. bore — to tire
  10. file — a document
  11. file — a tool
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. suit — in cards
  14. snap — to click
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mug — a face
  18. mug — a cup
  19. bore — to drill
  20. sharp — clever
  21. file — a line of people
  22. suit — clothes
  23. suit — to fit
  24. bore — gave birth

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