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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 giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. scale — in music
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. board — a committee
  7. mark — a grade
  8. board — to get on
  9. scale — size or range
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. mark — a trace
  17. chair — a professorship
  18. bark — to shout
  19. hand — in cards
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. chair — a leader
  24. hand — help

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