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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 120 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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. branch — a division
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. suit — in cards
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. kid — child
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. suit — clothes
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. rush — hurry
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. deal — to handle
  17. kid — to tease
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. suit — to fit
  20. wax — to grow
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. rush — a thrill

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