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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.

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: last · staff · leaves · board · fork · ruler · ball · rock

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. board — a committee
  7. last — finally
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. staff — employees
  10. last — to go on
  11. rock — music
  12. last — final
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. ball — a dance
  15. fork — in a road
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. rock — a stone
  19. staff — a stick
  20. board — to get on
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. staff — employees

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