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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: scale · rock · bear · board · chip · calf · nail · land

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. land — ground
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. scale — size or range
  6. rock — music
  7. board — a committee
  8. land — to come down
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. land — a country
  12. chip — for betting
  13. board — to get on
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bear — the animal
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. rock — a stone
  22. chip — to eat
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. scale — for weighing

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