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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 116 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: wax · ball · nail · dip · ruler · board · coach · deal

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. ball — a dance
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. deal — to handle
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. dip — to sink
  10. ball — a great time
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. wax — to grow
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. board — a committee

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