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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: coach · file · suit · mate · squash · bank · nail · stand

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. stand — to bear
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. bank — for money
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. file — a tool
  8. mate — a partner
  9. suit — clothes
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. suit — to fit
  13. squash — the sport
  14. bank — of a river
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. mate — a friend
  17. suit — in cards
  18. squash — to crush
  19. bank — for money
  20. file — a document
  21. mate — to breed
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. squash — the vegetable

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