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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: nail · board · net · rash · current · bass · staff · bowl

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. net — after costs
  4. rash — hasty
  5. net — in sport
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. staff — employees
  8. current — happening now
  9. current — of water
  10. bass — the fish
  11. rash — a series
  12. bass — low music
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. staff — a stick
  15. net — for catching
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. current — electric
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. board — to get on
  23. board — a committee
  24. nail — for a hammer

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