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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 116 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 captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. can — to be able to
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. board — a committee
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. can — a tin
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. can — a tin
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. season — in sport
  23. season — of the year
  24. mouse — the 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