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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: scale · bank · bark · rule · nail · board · deal · toast

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. toast — bread
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. deal — to handle
  5. scale — in music
  6. scale — size or range
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. rule — a law
  10. rule — government
  11. rule — to rule out
  12. bank — for money
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. board — a committee
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. bank — of a river
  20. bank — for money
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. board — to get on
  24. bark — to shout

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