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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: sharp · file · toast · mug · bank · face · nail · board

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. file — a document
  3. file — a tool
  4. face — part of the head
  5. bank — for money
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. sharp — clever
  10. toast — bread
  11. face — to point toward
  12. mug — a cup
  13. mug — to rob
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. mug — a face
  17. file — a line of people
  18. face — to confront
  19. bank — for money
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. board — a committee
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. bank — of a river

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