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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: saw · bark · board · plane · chip · rest · calf · bass

  1. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. board — a committee
  4. bass — the fish
  5. chip — to eat
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. rest — what's left
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. board — to get on
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. chip — for betting
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. rest — what's left
  18. bark — a dog's sound
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bark — to shout
  22. saw — the tool
  23. bass — low music
  24. plane — a tool

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