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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 120 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: lie · board · deal · leaves · wake · ground · cue · coach

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. lie — to recline
  10. ground — crushed
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. ground — the earth
  13. wake — a trail
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. board — to get on
  16. cue — a hint
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. ground — a position
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. cue — for pool
  21. board — a committee
  22. deal — to handle
  23. cue — a signal
  24. leaves — of a tree

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