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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
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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: fan · temple · nail · mug · press · craft · stock · bound

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. mug — a face
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. mug — to rob
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. press — newspapers
  7. stock — goods
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. craft — boats
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bound — obliged
  12. stock — shares
  13. press — to push
  14. bound — tied together
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bound — certain
  18. craft — a skill
  19. mug — a cup
  20. press — a publisher
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. nail — on a finger

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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