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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 116 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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bank — for money
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. fall — to drop
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. staff — a stick
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. staff — employees
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. face — part of the head
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. fall — the season
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. staff — employees
  18. bank — of a river
  19. bank — for money
  20. fall — to drop
  21. stock — shares
  22. face — to point toward
  23. stock — goods
  24. face — to confront

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