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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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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: wound · staff · board · deal · trunk · toast · ball · can

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. can — a tin
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. can — a tin
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. can — to be able to
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. staff — employees
  9. board — to get on
  10. wound — an injury
  11. ball — a great time
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. board — a committee
  14. ball — a dance
  15. staff — employees
  16. toast — bread
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. deal — to handle
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. wound — an injury

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