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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. stock — goods
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. branch — a division
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. stock — shares
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. can — a tin
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. stem — to come from
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. can — a tin
  21. board — a committee
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. can — to be able to
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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