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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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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: snap · hide · plane · toast · board · calf · ruler · safe

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. board — to get on
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. board — a committee
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. plane — a tool
  14. snap — to click
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. toast — bread
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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