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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: board · plane · fine · lean · calf · key · press · racket

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. fine — all right
  4. lean — thin
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. press — to push
  9. fine — high quality
  10. board — a committee
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. key — for a lock
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. key — in music
  17. press — newspapers
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. key — the most important part
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. plane — a tool
  22. lean — to bend
  23. press — a publisher
  24. fine — a penalty

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