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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: file · suit · calf · bank · ball · nail · net · ruler

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. suit — clothes
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. net — after costs
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bank — of a river
  9. suit — in cards
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. suit — to fit
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. file — a line of people
  15. ball — a dance
  16. ball — a great time
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. file — a tool
  19. net — in sport
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bank — for money
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. file — a document
  24. bank — for money

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