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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
468
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: face · fan · safe · board · racket · bank · bowl · nail

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  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. board — a flat piece
  2. face — to point toward
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. face — to confront
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. board — to get on
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bank — for money
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. board — a committee
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. face — part of the head
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. nail — for a hammer
  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