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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.

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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 · board · staff · stock · safe · stand · row · branch

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. branch — a division
  3. row — to paddle
  4. board — a committee
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. staff — a stick
  7. board — to get on
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. stock — goods
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. staff — employees
  12. row — a line
  13. fine — high quality
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. stock — shares
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. stand — to bear
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. fine — all right
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. staff — employees

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