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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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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. land — a country
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. board — to get on
  8. club — for dancing
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. plane — a tool
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. craft — a skill
  15. board — a committee
  16. land — ground
  17. ball — a great time
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. land — to come down
  20. club — a group
  21. ball — a dance
  22. craft — boats
  23. club — for golf
  24. ball — a round shape

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