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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: mark · calf · leaves · tube · bank · cell · board · net

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. board — to get on
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. board — a committee
  7. mark — a trace
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. bank — for money
  12. cell — in biology
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. net — in sport
  15. tube — the underground
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. tube — a container
  18. bank — for money
  19. cell — a phone
  20. bank — of a river
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. mark — a grade
  23. net — after costs
  24. calf — a young animal

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