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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 · plane · can · stick · nail · calf · chip · patient

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. can — a tin
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. board — a committee
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. board — to get on
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. plane — a tool
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. can — to be able to
  21. chip — for betting
  22. chip — to eat
  23. can — a tin
  24. plane — an aircraft

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