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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: trunk · board · fine · scale · stand · lash · mug · season

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. board — to get on
  5. fine — high quality
  6. mug — a cup
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. stand — to bear
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. season — of the year
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. fine — all right
  14. board — a committee
  15. scale — in music
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. season — in sport
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. scale — size or range
  23. mug — a face
  24. mug — to rob

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