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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: bore · fan · foot · temple · root · toast · board · wave

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. bore — to drill
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. toast — bread
  8. board — to get on
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. foot — a measure
  13. root — the cause
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. root — of a word
  16. root — of a plant
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. bore — to tire
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. board — a committee
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — to cool the air

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