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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 120 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: stick · temple · saw · fan · race · fine · board · coach

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. race — a contest
  3. fine — high quality
  4. saw — the tool
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. race — the arms race
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. race — humankind
  9. fine — all right
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. board — to get on
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. saw — the tool
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. board — a committee
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. fan — a supporter

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