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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. bank — for money
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. board — a committee
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. board — to get on
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. saw — the tool
  10. rock — a stone
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. bank — of a river
  13. saw — the tool
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bank — for money
  16. ground — a position
  17. ground — crushed
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. prune — to trim
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. rock — music
  23. prune — to trim
  24. rock — to move gently

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