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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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. branch — a division
  3. board — to get on
  4. fall — to drop
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. suit — to fit
  8. lie — to recline
  9. suit — in cards
  10. fall — to drop
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — for light
  20. fall — the season
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. suit — clothes
  24. branch — of a tree

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