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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: fine · mark · bore · calf · firm · craft · net · board

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. board — a committee
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. net — after costs
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. bore — to tire
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. craft — boats
  12. firm — decided
  13. fine — all right
  14. fine — high quality
  15. firm — a company
  16. bore — to drill
  17. board — to get on
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. mark — a grade
  20. craft — a skill
  21. net — in sport
  22. firm — steady
  23. mark — a trace
  24. net — for catching

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