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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: board · trunk · foot · charge · lean · dip · coach · rest

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. rest — a break
  7. lean — to bend
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. rest — what's left
  12. charge — in control
  13. foot — a measure
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. board — a committee
  16. board — to get on
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. lean — thin
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. rest — what's left
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. charge — electricity
  23. dip — to sink
  24. charge — a price

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