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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: present · squash · roll · key · foot · board · ball · sharp

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. ball — a dance
  3. sharp — clever
  4. present — the time now
  5. key — the most important part
  6. present — a gift
  7. key — in music
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. roll — a list
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. key — for a lock
  17. ball — a great time
  18. present — there
  19. foot — a measure
  20. squash — the sport
  21. board — to get on
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. roll — a cake
  24. squash — to crush

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