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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. stock — shares
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. branch — a division
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. stock — goods
  15. bear — the animal
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. bear — the animal
  24. plane — a tool

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