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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: kick · leaves · board · safe · can · deal · track · pop

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. track — a song
  3. board — a committee
  4. kick — in football
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. track — to keep track
  17. pop — to visit
  18. deal — to handle
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. track — a path
  21. pop — music
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. pop — soda
  24. can — a tin

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