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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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: scale · sharp · mark · board · ball · nail · can · fan

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. board — to get on
  3. board — a committee
  4. scale — in music
  5. scale — size or range
  6. ball — a dance
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. mark — a trace
  13. can — to be able to
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. can — a tin
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. sharp — clever
  22. can — a tin
  23. ball — a great time
  24. fan — to cool the air

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