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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: board · leaves · trunk · wake · current · mug · rock · safe

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. board — a committee
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. board — to get on
  7. rock — music
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. current — happening now
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. rock — a stone
  13. wake — a trail
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mug — a face
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. current — of water
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mug — a cup
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. current — electric

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