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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.

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: lean · chip · trunk · charge · board · bowl · drill · mouse

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. chip — to eat
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. drill — a practice
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. board — a committee
  11. charge — a price
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. charge — in control
  14. chip — for betting
  15. drill — army training
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. board — to get on
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. lean — to bend
  23. drill — the tool
  24. charge — electricity

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