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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: staff · fine · jam · row · date · calf · board · mate

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. staff — a stick
  3. row — to paddle
  4. mate — a partner
  5. board — to get on
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. mate — to breed
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. row — a line
  14. mate — a friend
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. staff — employees
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. fine — high quality
  22. date — the fruit
  23. fine — all right
  24. staff — employees

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