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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. firm — steady
  3. rush — hurry
  4. branch — a division
  5. key — the most important part
  6. rest — what's left
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. firm — a company
  9. rest — a break
  10. stand — to bear
  11. key — for a lock
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. rest — what's left
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. key — in music
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. firm — decided
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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