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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: tube · branch · board · pass · can · fine · staff · lie

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — to recline
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. staff — employees
  6. board — to get on
  7. can — to be able to
  8. fine — high quality
  9. tube — a container
  10. staff — employees
  11. board — a committee
  12. can — a tin
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. branch — a division
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. pass — a permit
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. can — a tin
  22. fine — all right
  23. staff — a stick
  24. tube — in a tire

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