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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · leaves · cue · lash · trunk · board · field · club

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. cue — a hint
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. field — for sport
  10. board — a committee
  11. cue — for pool
  12. field — a subject
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. stand — to bear
  15. board — to get on
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. club — for dancing
  18. club — a group
  19. club — for golf
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. field — farmland
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. trunk — of a car

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