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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 120 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 · plane · season · rest · ruler · squash · board · saw

  1. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. season — in sport
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. rest — what's left
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. squash — to crush
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. squash — the sport
  10. plane — a tool
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. saw — the tool
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. saw — the tool
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. board — a committee
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. board — to get on
  20. rest — a break
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. season — of the year
  23. rest — what's left
  24. calf — a young animal

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