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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: capital · wound · track · calf · cabinet · racket · ruler · board

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. track — to keep track
  4. track — a path
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. track — a song
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. capital — a big letter
  12. board — a committee
  13. wound — an injury
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. capital — money
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. wound — an injury
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. capital — a city
  24. board — to get on

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