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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.

Make a worksheet

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: trunk · pitch · date · bore · board · kick · suit · bulb

  1. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — a thrill
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. board — a committee
  5. pitch — completely
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. suit — clothes
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. suit — in cards
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bore — to drill
  13. date — the fruit
  14. kick — in football
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. bulb — for light
  18. board — to get on
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. suit — to fit
  21. bore — to tire
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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