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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 like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. branch — a division
  4. bound — obliged
  5. rush — hurry
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. court — of law
  8. dip — to sink
  9. deal — to handle
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. court — of a king
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. court — for sport
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. bound — certain
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. dip — a sauce

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