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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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: stand · mate · key · face · root · pitcher · board · trunk

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. face — to confront
  4. board — a committee
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. key — in music
  8. root — of a word
  9. key — for a lock
  10. board — to get on
  11. root — the cause
  12. face — part of the head
  13. mate — a partner
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. key — the most important part
  16. mate — to breed
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. root — of a plant
  19. mate — a friend
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. face — to point toward
  22. stand — to bear
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. board — a flat piece

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