ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

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.

Make a worksheet

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
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

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: nail · coach · board · spring · trunk · fan · file · deal

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. file — a line of people
  7. spring — of water
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. file — a tool
  14. deal — to handle
  15. spring — a coil
  16. board — to get on
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. board — a committee
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. file — a document
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. spring — the season
  24. deal — a big deal

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