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

Word bank: board · game · mark · trunk · pit · coach

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. mark — a trace
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. pit — a hole
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. game — wild animals
  10. board — to get on
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. board — a committee
  14. game — a match
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. mark — a grade
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. 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