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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 · cap · fork · mark · jam · leaves · rock · staff

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. board — a committee
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. cap — a hat
  6. cap — of ice
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. staff — a stick
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. rock — music
  17. cap — a lid
  18. mark — a trace
  19. staff — employees
  20. rock — a stone
  21. board — to get on
  22. staff — employees
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. fork — in a road

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