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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: fan · march · calf · board · arm · hide · club · plane

  1. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for golf
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. plane — a tool
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. club — for dancing
  15. march — music
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. club — a group
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. march — the month
  21. board — a committee
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. march — the month
  24. board — to get on

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