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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 116 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: leaves · stand · board · branch · safe · band · squash · deal

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. branch — a division
  10. squash — to crush
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stand — to bear
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. deal — to handle
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. band — a music group
  18. squash — the sport
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. band — a ring
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. board — to get on

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