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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.

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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: bank · fall · staff · nail · board · suit · safe · craft

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. craft — boats
  5. staff — a stick
  6. staff — employees
  7. suit — to fit
  8. suit — clothes
  9. bank — for money
  10. fall — to drop
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. staff — employees
  14. fall — to drop
  15. bank — for money
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. board — to get on
  19. craft — a skill
  20. bank — of a river
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. board — a committee
  23. fall — the season
  24. suit — in cards

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