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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
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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: nail · fall · firm · lie · fan · jam · board · bowl

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. firm — decided
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. firm — steady
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. fall — the season
  8. lie — to recline
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. board — a committee
  16. fall — to drop
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. board — to get on
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. firm — a company
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. fall — to drop
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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