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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 116 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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. mark — a trace
  3. pop — music
  4. suit — in cards
  5. object — an aim
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. suit — clothes
  8. bulb — for light
  9. shower — rain
  10. suit — to fit
  11. branch — a division
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. pop — to visit
  14. object — a thing
  15. mark — a grade
  16. scale — size or range
  17. bulb — for light
  18. shower — to wash
  19. object — to protest
  20. scale — in music
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. pop — soda

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