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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. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  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. rest — what's left
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. current — happening now
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. current — of water
  8. branch — a division
  9. current — electric
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bank — for money
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. bank — of a river
  19. craft — a skill
  20. bank — for money
  21. rest — a break
  22. craft — boats
  23. rest — what's left
  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