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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.

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: board · can · pitcher · nail · lean · fan · saw · cue

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. board — a committee
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. board — to get on
  8. cue — a hint
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. can — a tin
  12. saw — the tool
  13. lean — thin
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. cue — a signal
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. can — a tin
  19. saw — the tool
  20. lean — to bend
  21. can — to be able to
  22. cue — for pool
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. fan — to cool the air

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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