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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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. board — to get on
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. rule — a law
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. chip — to eat
  8. season — in sport
  9. branch — a division
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. ball — a dance
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. board — a committee
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. ball — a great time
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. chip — for betting
  23. rule — government
  24. ball — a round shape

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