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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pop — to visit
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. field — a subject
  5. branch — a division
  6. board — a committee
  7. pass — a permit
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. pop — music
  11. chip — to eat
  12. chip — for betting
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. board — to get on
  19. field — farmland
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. rush — hurry
  22. pop — soda
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. field — for sport

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