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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. deal — to handle
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. board — a committee
  6. chip — to eat
  7. sharp — clever
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. board — to get on
  10. bound — tied together
  11. chip — for betting
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. bound — certain
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. bound — obliged
  21. branch — a division
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. deal — a big deal

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