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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. firm — a company
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. stand — to bear
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. branch — a division
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. lean — thin
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. toast — bread
  15. lean — to bend
  16. firm — steady
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. bulb — for light
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. bulb — for light
  24. toast — the most admired

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