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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. cue — for pool
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. swing — in golf
  5. row — a line
  6. can — a tin
  7. cue — a signal
  8. swing — music
  9. cue — a hint
  10. rest — what's left
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. ball — a dance
  13. row — to paddle
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. rest — a break
  16. branch — a division
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. ball — a great time
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. rest — what's left
  23. dip — to sink
  24. swing — to play on

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