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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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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. deal — to handle
  5. band — a music group
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. pop — to visit
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. stand — to bear
  11. staff — a stick
  12. band — a ring
  13. pop — soda
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. staff — employees
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. pop — music
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. staff — employees
  24. pitcher — a jug

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