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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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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: mug · nail · board · calf · march · patient

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. march — the month
  4. march — the month
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. mug — a face
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. march — music
  11. mug — to rob
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. board — to get on
  14. board — a committee
  15. mug — a cup
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. calf — of the leg

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