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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: squash · cap · suit · toast · stock · board · trunk · calf

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. board — a committee
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. cap — of ice
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. stock — goods
  9. suit — in cards
  10. cap — a lid
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. suit — to fit
  14. cap — a hat
  15. squash — the sport
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. toast — bread
  21. stock — shares
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. squash — to crush
  24. board — to get on

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