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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 120 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: trunk · can · nail · board · bay · wake · lie · racket

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. wake — a trail
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. board — to get on
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. can — a tin
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. board — a committee
  14. lie — to recline
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. can — to be able to
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  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