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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: drill · leaves · board · face · foot · club · season · mate

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. drill — a practice
  5. face — part of the head
  6. face — to point toward
  7. drill — the tool
  8. season — in sport
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. club — for dancing
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. face — to confront
  13. drill — army training
  14. club — for golf
  15. season — of the year
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. mate — to breed
  18. mate — a partner
  19. club — a group
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. board — to get on
  22. mate — a friend
  23. foot — a measure
  24. foot — the bottom

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