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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. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. rest — what's left
  3. cap — a hat
  4. chip — to eat
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. board — to get on
  7. track — a song
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. chip — for betting
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. rest — a break
  14. cap — a lid
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. rest — what's left
  17. track — to keep track
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. cap — of ice
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. board — a committee
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. track — a path

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