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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: board · calf · stick · mark · field · staff · leaves · deal

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. staff — a stick
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. field — for sport
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. mark — a grade
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. board — a committee
  10. field — a subject
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. board — to get on
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. staff — employees
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. staff — employees
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. field — farmland
  22. mark — a trace
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. deal — to handle

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