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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 120 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: board · drill · branch · sharp · bore · stand · object · cue

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. object — a thing
  3. drill — army training
  4. bore — to tire
  5. sharp — clever
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. board — to get on
  8. object — an aim
  9. cue — a hint
  10. stand — to bear
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. drill — the tool
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cue — for pool
  21. bore — to drill
  22. branch — a division
  23. object — to protest
  24. drill — a practice

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