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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: rash · can · mark · lean · mouse · toast · board · staff

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. board — to get on
  3. can — to be able to
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. staff — a stick
  6. mark — a grade
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. rash — a series
  9. mark — a trace
  10. rash — hasty
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. lean — to bend
  13. can — a tin
  14. toast — bread
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. staff — employees
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. lean — thin
  22. can — a tin
  23. staff — employees
  24. mark — to pay attention

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