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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 120 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: plane · coach · file · firm · mug · deal · net · nail

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. net — for catching
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. file — a tool
  6. plane — a tool
  7. deal — to handle
  8. mug — a face
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. firm — steady
  13. mug — to rob
  14. file — a line of people
  15. file — a document
  16. firm — decided
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. net — after costs
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. mug — a cup
  22. firm — a company
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. deal — an agreement

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