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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. track — a path
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. fine — high quality
  5. branch — a division
  6. root — of a plant
  7. pit — a hole
  8. mate — a friend
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. scale — in music
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. track — to keep track
  14. root — of a word
  15. fine — all right
  16. track — a song
  17. mate — to breed
  18. pit — in a race
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. scale — size or range
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. root — the cause
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. mate — a partner

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