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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: board · hide · deal · last · trunk · dip · mark · charge

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. charge — a price
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. board — a committee
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. mark — a grade
  8. dip — to sink
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. last — final
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. charge — in control
  16. deal — to handle
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. mark — a trace
  20. last — finally
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. last — to go on
  23. charge — electricity
  24. board — to get on

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