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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 · race · coach · fan · bay · rush · can

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. race — humankind
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. board — a committee
  6. race — the arms race
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. can — to be able to
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — a tin
  18. board — to get on
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. race — a contest
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. fan — a supporter

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