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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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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: key · coach · jam · ball · pass · calf · board · shower

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. shower — rain
  4. key — the most important part
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. board — a committee
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. ball — a great time
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. shower — to wash
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. key — for a lock
  19. ball — a dance
  20. key — in music
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. pass — a permit
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. board — to get on

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