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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: spell · current · trunk · track · board · coach · press · bass

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. board — to get on
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. track — a path
  5. track — to keep track
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. bass — low music
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. bass — the fish
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. track — a song
  13. press — to push
  14. current — happening now
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. current — of water
  17. press — newspapers
  18. press — a publisher
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. spell — letters
  21. board — a committee
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. spell — a short time
  24. current — electric

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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