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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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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: mouse · board · deal · chair · root · safe · nail · face

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. face — to confront
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. face — part of the head
  8. deal — to handle
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. chair — a leader
  12. root — of a word
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. board — a committee
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. root — the cause
  22. face — to point toward
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. root — of a plant

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