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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. last — final
  3. board — to get on
  4. stand — to bear
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. board — a committee
  8. cue — a hint
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. branch — a division
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. rash — a series
  15. last — to go on
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. last — finally
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. cue — for pool
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. foot — a measure
  24. rash — hasty

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