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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. board — to get on
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. fork — in a road
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. deal — to handle
  10. staff — employees
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. staff — a stick
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. staff — employees
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. board — a committee
  21. foot — a measure
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. coach — a trainer

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