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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: fine · board · suit · file · calf · date · nail · club

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  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. file — a line of people
  2. suit — clothes
  3. club — a group
  4. file — a tool
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. club — for dancing
  8. fine — all right
  9. board — a committee
  10. suit — in cards
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. board — to get on
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. club — for golf
  17. file — a document
  18. date — the fruit
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. fine — high quality
  22. suit — to fit
  23. calf — a young animal
  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