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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.

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: leaves · cue · row · staff · toast · board · cabinet · tube

  1. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. board — a committee
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. tube — the underground
  7. row — a line
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. staff — a stick
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. cue — a hint
  12. tube — a container
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. row — to paddle
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. staff — employees
  19. board — to get on
  20. cue — a signal
  21. cue — for pool
  22. toast — bread
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. staff — employees

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