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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 120 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: board · mug · track · cabinet · calf · tube · fan · pound

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. pound — a weight
  3. mug — a cup
  4. board — to get on
  5. mug — to rob
  6. track — a path
  7. tube — the underground
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. pound — to hit hard
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. track — to keep track
  20. board — a committee
  21. mug — a face
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. track — a song

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