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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: foot · file · staff · press · bank · nail · face · ball

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. file — a tool
  3. ball — a dance
  4. foot — a measure
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. face — to point toward
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. file — a document
  9. bank — of a river
  10. staff — employees
  11. face — part of the head
  12. bank — for money
  13. press — to push
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. press — newspapers
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. ball — a great time
  18. file — a line of people
  19. staff — employees
  20. staff — a stick
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. press — a publisher
  23. bank — for money
  24. face — to confront

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