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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: suit · trunk · pitcher · calf · board · stick · shower · mate

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. board — a committee
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. suit — clothes
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. board — to get on
  11. shower — to wash
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. mate — to breed
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. suit — in cards
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. mate — a partner
  20. shower — rain
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. suit — to fit
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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