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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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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. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. can — a tin
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. can — a tin
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. hand — in cards
  12. branch — a division
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. can — to be able to
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. leaves — of a tree

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