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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: foot · arm · snap · coach · current · track · board · nail

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. track — to keep track
  4. foot — a measure
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. snap — to click
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. current — of water
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. current — happening now
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. board — to get on
  16. track — a song
  17. current — electric
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. track — a path

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