ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

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
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

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 · wave · roll

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. game — a match
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. board — a committee
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. mark — a grade
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. mark — a trace
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. pit — a hole
  15. roll — a cake
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. pit — in a race
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. board — to get on
  20. game — wild animals
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. roll — a list

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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