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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: press · rush · foot · trunk · board · deal · key · bay

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. key — the most important part
  3. key — for a lock
  4. press — newspapers
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. press — a publisher
  7. board — a committee
  8. key — in music
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. rush — hurry
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. press — to push
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. foot — a measure
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. deal — to handle
  24. deal — a big deal

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