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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. file — a document
  3. chip — for betting
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. file — a line of people
  8. mug — to rob
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. file — a tool
  11. chip — to eat
  12. plane — a tool
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. mug — a cup
  16. board — to get on
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. branch — a division
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. mug — a face
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. board — a committee
  24. wave — with your hand

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