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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: key · ball · coach · leaves · ruler · sharp · nail · pitcher

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. key — in music
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ball — a dance
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. sharp — clever
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. ball — a great time
  18. key — for a lock
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. key — the most important part

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