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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
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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: safe · calf · fine · board · hide · land · saw · key

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. land — ground
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. board — to get on
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. board — a committee
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. key — for a lock
  11. land — a country
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. saw — the tool
  14. saw — the tool
  15. land — to come down
  16. fine — high quality
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. key — the most important part
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. fine — all right
  24. key — in music

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