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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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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: dip · bowl · bay · bank · calf · fall · board · nail

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. bank — for money
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. board — a committee
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. fall — the season
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. board — to get on
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. dip — to sink
  17. bank — for money
  18. fall — to drop
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. bank — of a river
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. fall — to drop
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. calf — of the leg

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