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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: board · chest · calf · sharp · rock · lie · charge · fan

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. board — a committee
  3. chest — a box
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. sharp — clever
  9. chest — of your body
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. rock — a stone
  15. lie — to recline
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. chest — of your body
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. charge — electricity
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. charge — a price
  23. board — to get on
  24. rock — music

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