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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: date · squash · scale · mug · rock · board · plane · calf

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. squash — to crush
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. rock — music
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. mug — a cup
  10. board — a committee
  11. board — to get on
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. date — the fruit
  15. scale — size or range
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. rock — a stone
  19. squash — the sport
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. scale — in music
  22. mug — a face
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. mug — to rob

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