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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. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — to eat with
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. charge — in control
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. board — to get on
  9. track — a path
  10. charge — electricity
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. charge — a price
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. lie — to recline
  15. board — a committee
  16. fork — in a road
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. track — to keep track
  19. mark — a trace
  20. mark — a grade
  21. track — a song
  22. fork — a garden tool
  23. branch — a division
  24. mark — to pay attention

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