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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: board · fan · file · bowl · mark · nail · stand · fine

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. file — a document
  3. file — a tool
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. fine — all right
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. file — a line of people
  11. fine — high quality
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. stand — to bear
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. board — to get on
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. board — a committee
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. mark — a trace
  24. nail — on a finger

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