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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: board · press · rush · lie · saw · calf · bulb · net

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. board — to get on
  5. lie — to recline
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. press — to push
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. saw — the tool
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bulb — for light
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. net — for catching
  15. bulb — for light
  16. board — a committee
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. net — in sport
  19. saw — the tool
  20. press — newspapers
  21. rush — hurry
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. press — a publisher
  24. net — after costs

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