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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 smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. board — a committee
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. stand — to bear
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. foot — a measure
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. can — to be able to
  14. board — to get on
  15. rock — music
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — a tin
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. branch — a division

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