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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: nail · rash · bay · key · bowl · coach · last · lie

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. last — finally
  3. last — to go on
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. lie — to recline
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. rash — a series
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. key — for a lock
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. key — the most important part
  18. last — final
  19. key — in music
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. rash — hasty
  24. nail — for a hammer

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