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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: deal · pit · mate · calf · tube · board · foot · scale

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. tube — the underground
  7. board — to get on
  8. scale — size or range
  9. scale — in music
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. pit — in a race
  13. foot — a measure
  14. tube — a container
  15. pit — a hole
  16. mate — a partner
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. mate — to breed
  21. board — a committee
  22. deal — to handle
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. mate — a friend

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