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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.

Make a worksheet

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: squash · lie · trunk · pass · sharp · root · file · board

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. file — a document
  3. pass — a permit
  4. root — of a word
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. board — a committee
  7. sharp — clever
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. squash — the sport
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. root — the cause
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. squash — to crush
  18. board — to get on
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. lie — to recline
  21. file — a tool
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. root — of a plant
  24. board — a flat piece

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