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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: fine · branch · bay · board · object · rash · mate · date

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. mate — a friend
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. branch — a division
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. fine — all right
  10. mate — a partner
  11. board — to get on
  12. rash — hasty
  13. object — a thing
  14. object — an aim
  15. rash — a series
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. mate — to breed
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. object — to protest
  22. date — the fruit
  23. fine — high quality
  24. date — on the calendar

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