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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: saw · leaves · trunk · content · rash · board · chair · can

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. can — a tin
  4. chair — a leader
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. content — happy
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. board — a committee
  10. can — a tin
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. saw — the tool
  14. rash — a series
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. board — to get on
  17. rash — hasty
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. content — the amount
  23. saw — the tool
  24. can — to be able to

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