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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.

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: dip · prune · chip · calf · nail · board · object · row

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. prune — to trim
  4. board — to get on
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. row — a line
  9. board — a committee
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. chip — for betting
  12. chip — to eat
  13. object — an aim
  14. row — to paddle
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. prune — to trim
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. object — a thing
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. dip — to sink
  23. object — to protest
  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