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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: roll · leaves · bowl · trunk · coach · fork · board · bear

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. board — to get on
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. roll — a cake
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. board — a committee
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. roll — a list
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. bear — the animal
  22. fork — in a road
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bear — the animal

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