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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 120 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
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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: board · fork · chip · coach · ball · mouse · bear · leaves

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. ball — a great time
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. chip — to eat
  7. ball — a dance
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. board — a committee
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. fork — in a road
  14. board — to get on
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. chip — for betting
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. bear — the animal
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. leaves — lets stay

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