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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: cap · mark · board · racket · lie · spell · wax · coach

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. cap — a lid
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. lie — to recline
  5. wax — to grow
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. board — to get on
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. cap — of ice
  11. spell — magic
  12. mark — a trace
  13. spell — letters
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. cap — a hat
  18. spell — a short time
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. board — a committee
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. racket — for tennis

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