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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 120 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. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. can — to be able to
  4. bear — the animal
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. mark — a grade
  7. board — a committee
  8. can — a tin
  9. rule — government
  10. can — a tin
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. craft — a skill
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. mark — a trace
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. craft — boats
  18. kick — in football
  19. branch — a division
  20. rule — to rule out
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. bear — the animal
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. board — to get on

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