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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. staff — employees
  4. board — to get on
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. staff — employees
  7. cap — a lid
  8. chair — a leader
  9. branch — a division
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. cap — a hat
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. board — a committee
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. cap — of ice
  17. staff — a stick
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. lie — to recline
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. season — in sport
  23. season — of the year
  24. toast — bread

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