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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. cue — a signal
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. cue — a hint
  5. chair — a leader
  6. bound — tied together
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. pit — a hole
  11. board — a committee
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. pit — in a race
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. can — a tin
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. cue — for pool
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. can — to be able to
  21. board — to get on
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bound — certain
  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