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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. board — to get on
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. sharp — clever
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. mark — a trace
  12. prune — to trim
  13. lean — to bend
  14. mark — a grade
  15. lean — thin
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. board — a committee
  21. prune — to trim
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. branch — a division

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