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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.

Make a worksheet

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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. bound — obliged
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. rest — a break
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. rest — what's left
  12. branch — a division
  13. fork — in a road
  14. toast — bread
  15. bound — tied together
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. bound — certain
  18. rest — what's left

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