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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.

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: nail · lie · board · cabinet · wax · track · root · straw

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. lie — to recline
  4. board — a committee
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. root — the cause
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. root — of a word
  12. straw — dry grass
  13. root — of a plant
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. track — a path
  19. track — to keep track
  20. board — to get on
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. track — a song
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. wax — to grow

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