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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 · file · stand · mouse · net · fine · row · firm

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. row — a line
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. file — a document
  5. net — after costs
  6. fine — all right
  7. firm — steady
  8. row — to paddle
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. net — for catching
  11. stand — to bear
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. file — a line of people
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. file — a tool
  17. fine — high quality
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. firm — decided
  20. firm — a company
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. net — in sport

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