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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 116 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: lash · land · leaves · can · cabinet · dip · staff · board

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. staff — employees
  3. board — to get on
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. can — a tin
  7. land — a country
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. staff — employees
  10. land — to come down
  11. dip — to sink
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. can — to be able to
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. can — a tin
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. staff — a stick
  23. land — ground
  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