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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: calf · board · bay · squash · branch · fork · game · dip

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. game — wild animals
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. branch — a division
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. fork — in a road
  18. squash — the sport
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. squash — to crush
  21. game — a match
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. board — to get on
  24. board — a committee

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