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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: mouse · date · board · drill · squash · foot · sharp · calf

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. drill — the tool
  3. drill — a practice
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. squash — to crush
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. squash — the sport
  15. board — to get on
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. date — the fruit
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. drill — army training
  21. board — a committee
  22. foot — a measure
  23. sharp — clever
  24. calf — of the leg

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