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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bulb · march · rush · board · stand · calf · band · stick

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. board — a committee
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. bulb — for light
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. stand — to bear
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. band — a ring
  12. bulb — for light
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. band — a music group
  17. march — the month
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. march — the month
  20. rush — hurry
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. march — music
  24. board — to get on

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