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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.

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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: fork · wave · chip · leaves · toast · cabinet · trunk · board

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. board — to get on
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. chip — for betting
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. toast — bread
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. chip — to eat
  20. fork — in a road
  21. board — a committee
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. wave — with your hand

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