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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 little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. bear — the animal
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. drill — a practice
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. drill — the tool
  9. lie — to recline
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. bank — for money
  12. branch — a division
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. bulb — for light
  15. deal — to handle
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. bank — for money
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bank — of a river
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. drill — army training

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