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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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Word bank
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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: pit · bank · board · rock · calf · rash

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. board — to get on
  3. pit — a hole
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. pit — in a race
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. rock — a stone
  9. bank — for money
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. bank — of a river
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. bank — for money
  14. rock — music
  15. rash — hasty
  16. board — a committee
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. 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