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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. board — to get on
  4. branch — a division
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. mate — to breed
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. mate — a partner
  15. foot — a measure
  16. board — a committee
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. mate — a friend
  20. stem — to come from
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. rash — hasty
  24. foot — part of the body

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