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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: calf · board · land · ruler · club · key · toast · pitcher

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. land — ground
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. toast — bread
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. club — for golf
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. land — a country
  11. key — in music
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. key — for a lock
  17. board — to get on
  18. land — to come down
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. key — the most important part
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. club — a group
  23. club — for dancing
  24. ruler — for measuring

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