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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: board · rule · trunk · cabinet · plane · present · key · wax

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. present — there
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. key — in music
  7. present — a gift
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. plane — a tool
  11. present — the time now
  12. rule — to rule out
  13. wax — to grow
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. board — to get on
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. rule — government
  22. rule — a law
  23. key — for a lock
  24. board — a committee

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