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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.

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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
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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 · sharp · fan · nail · coach · lie · key · bound

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. bound — certain
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. key — the most important part
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. sharp — clever
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bound — tied together
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. lie — to recline
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. key — for a lock
  22. key — in music
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. sharp — with an edge

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