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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bank — for money
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. lie — to recline
  6. branch — a division
  7. bank — for money
  8. bank — of a river
  9. mug — a cup
  10. roll — a cake
  11. mug — to rob
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. mug — a face
  15. rock — a stone
  16. board — to get on
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. pop — to visit
  19. pop — soda
  20. pop — music
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. roll — a list
  24. board — a committee

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