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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: chip · cabinet · calf · board · jam · fan · nail · file

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. chip — for betting
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. file — a line of people
  8. board — to get on
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. file — a tool
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. board — a committee
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. file — a document
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. chip — to eat

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