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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.

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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: trunk · mouse · board · fine · charge · kick · rest · root

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. kick — a thrill
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. fine — all right
  5. charge — electricity
  6. fine — high quality
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. rest — what's left
  10. board — to get on
  11. charge — a price
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. rest — a break
  14. root — of a plant
  15. root — the cause
  16. root — of a word
  17. board — a committee
  18. kick — in football
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. charge — in control
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. board — a flat piece

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