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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.

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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: calf · charge · scale · bank · row · board · staff · leaves

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. board — to get on
  3. charge — electricity
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. row — to paddle
  6. board — a committee
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. staff — a stick
  10. row — a line
  11. charge — a price
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. staff — employees
  15. scale — in music
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. staff — employees
  18. bank — of a river
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. bank — for money
  22. charge — in control
  23. scale — size or range
  24. 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