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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: trunk · pitch · cap · charge · deal · toast · board · capital

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. capital — a city
  6. board — a committee
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. cap — a lid
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. charge — a price
  11. pitch — completely
  12. charge — electricity
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. cap — of ice
  17. capital — money
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. charge — in control
  20. cap — a hat
  21. toast — bread
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. board — to get on
  24. capital — a big letter

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