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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: net · board · rash · dip · track · calf · mouse · lie

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. net — after costs
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. track — a song
  7. net — in sport
  8. dip — to sink
  9. rash — hasty
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. board — to get on
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. board — a committee
  19. lie — to recline
  20. track — to keep track
  21. net — for catching
  22. rash — a series
  23. track — a path
  24. lie — an untruth

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