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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. suit — clothes
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. pop — to visit
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. key — for a lock
  7. snap — to click
  8. key — the most important part
  9. ground — crushed
  10. pop — soda
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — to be able to
  14. suit — to fit
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. can — a tin
  17. key — in music
  18. ground — a position
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. rush — hurry
  21. ground — the earth
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. pop — music
  24. suit — in cards

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