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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: mate · present · chair · net · can · board · rash · branch

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. present — there
  3. mate — to breed
  4. present — the time now
  5. can — a tin
  6. present — a gift
  7. branch — a division
  8. mate — a friend
  9. rash — a series
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. chair — to sit on
  12. net — in sport
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. net — after costs
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. rash — hasty
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. board — a committee
  19. can — a tin
  20. can — to be able to
  21. net — for catching
  22. mate — a partner
  23. board — to get on
  24. chair — a leader

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