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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: nail · straw · sharp · branch · calf · board · bulb · fork

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. straw — a straw man
  3. branch — a division
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. board — to get on
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. fork — in a road
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. bulb — for light
  18. board — a committee
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. bulb — for light
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. sharp — clever

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