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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 120 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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Word bank
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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  10. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. rock — a stone
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. clip — for paper
  10. clip — a video
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. mug — to rob
  13. fine — all right
  14. branch — a division
  15. mug — a cup
  16. fine — high quality
  17. rock — music
  18. saw — the tool
  19. mug — a face
  20. clip — to cut
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. deal — to handle
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. saw — the 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