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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. shower — rain
  3. mate — a friend
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. board — to get on
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. shower — to wash
  8. ground — a position
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. mate — to breed
  11. bank — for money
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. ground — the earth
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. bank — of a river
  16. board — a committee
  17. mate — a partner
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. ground — crushed
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. bank — for money
  24. calf — a young animal

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