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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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. saw — the tool
  7. stand — to bear
  8. cue — for pool
  9. cue — a hint
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. snap — to click
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. saw — the tool
  15. tube — a container
  16. season — in sport
  17. branch — a division
  18. cue — a signal
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. tube — the underground
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. board — to get on
  24. season — of the year

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