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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 116 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: charge · bay · file · nail · fork · bat · coach · net

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. charge — a price
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. file — a tool
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. bat — the animal
  12. charge — in control
  13. net — in sport
  14. file — a line of people
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. net — after costs
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. charge — electricity
  19. net — for catching
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. fork — in a road
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. fork — a garden tool

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