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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. squash — to crush
  5. toast — bread
  6. rush — hurry
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. roll — a cake
  10. mate — to breed
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. roll — a list
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. mate — a partner
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. squash — the sport
  19. pit — a hole
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. mate — a friend
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. branch — a division

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