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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 124 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 works in a ________________ mill.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. track — to keep track
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. firm — steady
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. lie — to recline
  8. saw — the tool
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. board — a committee
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. track — a song
  13. key — in music
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. branch — a division
  16. firm — decided
  17. track — a path
  18. key — for a lock
  19. tube — a container
  20. firm — a company
  21. tube — the underground
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. key — the most important part
  24. board — to get on

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