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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.

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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: board · hide · leaves · can · calf · club · pit · staff

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. 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. staff — employees
  2. club — a group
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. pit — in a race
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. can — a tin
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. can — to be able to
  15. pit — a hole
  16. staff — employees
  17. board — a committee
  18. club — for golf
  19. board — to get on
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. staff — a stick
  22. can — a tin
  23. club — for dancing
  24. 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