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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 116 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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. mark — a grade
  4. cap — of ice
  5. stand — to bear
  6. cap — a lid
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. branch — a division
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. season — of the year
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. cap — a hat
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. mark — a trace
  20. season — in sport
  21. lie — to recline
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. chip — for betting
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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