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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
468
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 · ball · toast · pitch · can · face · club · trunk

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. ball — a great time
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. pitch — completely
  7. can — a tin
  8. board — a committee
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. club — for golf
  11. can — to be able to
  12. ball — a dance
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. club — a group
  15. board — to get on
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. club — for dancing
  18. toast — bread
  19. can — a tin
  20. face — part of the head
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. face — to confront
  24. face — to point toward

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