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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: staff · trunk · season · stand · net · coach · board · toast

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. season — of the year
  5. toast — bread
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. board — a committee
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. season — in sport
  10. staff — employees
  11. net — for catching
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. stand — to bear
  16. staff — employees
  17. board — to get on
  18. net — after costs
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. staff — a stick
  22. net — in sport
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. trunk — of a tree

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