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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
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: calf · band · deal · board · game · nail · hide · patient

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  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. patient — a sick person
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. game — wild animals
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. band — a music group
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. deal — to handle
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. board — to get on
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. band — a ring
  21. game — a match
  22. board — a committee
  23. hide — to keep secret
  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