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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: key · file · fall · nail · season · net · craft · mug

  1. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. file — a document
  3. file — a line of people
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. fall — to drop
  6. season — of the year
  7. net — after costs
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. key — the most important part
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mug — a face
  13. key — in music
  14. craft — a skill
  15. net — in sport
  16. season — in sport
  17. craft — boats
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. net — for catching
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. fall — the season
  22. mug — a cup
  23. key — for a lock
  24. file — a 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