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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 seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. track — a path
  3. charge — electricity
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. rash — a series
  6. branch — a division
  7. charge — in control
  8. track — to keep track
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. track — a song
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. kick — in football
  14. lie — to recline
  15. rash — hasty
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. board — a committee
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. charge — a price
  23. board — to get on
  24. saw — the tool

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