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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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: trunk · hand · net · board · saw · calf · scale · fan

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. hand — help
  6. saw — the tool
  7. net — for catching
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. saw — the tool
  11. scale — in music
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. board — a committee
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. board — to get on
  18. net — after costs
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. scale — size or range
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. hand — in cards

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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