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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
468
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: fan · safe · cell · chip · track · branch · bowl · board

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. chip — for betting
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. cell — a phone
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. track — to keep track
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. branch — a division
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. track — a path
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. board — a committee
  16. board — to get on
  17. chip — to eat
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. track — a song

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