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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: cabinet · mug · chip · pass · staff · board · branch · face

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. staff — employees
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. chip — to eat
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. board — a committee
  9. staff — a stick
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. face — to confront
  12. mug — to rob
  13. staff — employees
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. face — to point toward
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. mug — a face
  18. pass — a permit
  19. mug — a cup
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. branch — a division
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. board — to get on
  24. chip — for betting

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