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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: board · nail · trunk · bowl · dip · face · rest · squash

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. board — a committee
  6. board — to get on
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. dip — to sink
  9. face — part of the head
  10. rest — a break
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. squash — the sport
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. face — to point toward
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. rest — what's left
  23. squash — to crush
  24. face — to confront

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