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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.

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: staff · ball · race · kick · season · branch · rest · board

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. race — the arms race
  3. rest — what's left
  4. board — a committee
  5. staff — employees
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. staff — a stick
  8. race — humankind
  9. board — to get on
  10. rest — a break
  11. ball — a dance
  12. branch — a division
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. race — a contest
  17. ball — a great time
  18. season — of the year
  19. season — in sport
  20. kick — in football
  21. rest — what's left
  22. staff — employees
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. kick — a thrill

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