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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
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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: charge · kick · last · trunk · toast · spring · board · cabinet

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. spring — of water
  3. spring — the season
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. charge — a price
  6. last — finally
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. charge — electricity
  12. toast — bread
  13. board — a committee
  14. last — to go on
  15. last — final
  16. board — to get on
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. charge — in control
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. spring — a coil
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. cabinet — ministers

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