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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.

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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: stand · nail · lie · fan · branch · suit · firm · board

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. firm — steady
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. board — a committee
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. stand — to bear
  11. firm — decided
  12. suit — in cards
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. lie — to recline
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. suit — to fit
  18. suit — clothes
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. firm — a company
  23. board — to get on
  24. branch — a division

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