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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: cabinet · bay · stand · calf · mate · mark · bat · board

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. stand — to bear
  3. bat — for baseball
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. mate — a partner
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. mark — a trace
  10. mate — to breed
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. bat — the animal
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. mate — a friend
  20. board — to get on
  21. board — a committee
  22. mark — a grade
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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