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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: chair · board · saw · plane · calf · firm · drill · deal

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. drill — a practice
  4. plane — a tool
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. chair — a professorship
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. firm — steady
  10. deal — to handle
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. board — to get on
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. saw — the tool
  15. firm — a company
  16. saw — the tool
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. drill — the tool
  19. firm — decided
  20. chair — a leader
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. drill — army training
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. deal — a big deal

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