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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.

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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: board · spell · can · calf · track · land · fork · cue

  1. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. fork — to eat with
  2. fork — in a road
  3. board — to get on
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. land — ground
  6. board — a committee
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. spell — magic
  9. can — a tin
  10. track — to keep track
  11. track — a song
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. land — a country
  14. can — a tin
  15. cue — for pool
  16. cue — a hint
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. spell — a short time
  19. track — a path
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. can — to be able to
  22. cue — a signal
  23. land — to come down
  24. spell — letters

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