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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: row · sharp · root · press · nail · fan · saw · board

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. press — newspapers
  3. row — to paddle
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. root — of a plant
  7. saw — the tool
  8. root — the cause
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. press — a publisher
  14. sharp — clever
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. board — to get on
  17. saw — the tool
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. board — a committee
  21. press — to push
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. root — of a word
  24. row — a line

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