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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. craft — boats
  3. branch — a division
  4. rash — a series
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. bulb — for light
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. rest — what's left
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. bank — of a river
  11. rest — a break
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. rash — hasty
  14. bulb — for light
  15. rest — what's left
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. stock — goods
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. stock — shares
  21. bank — for money
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. craft — a skill
  24. branch — of a bank

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