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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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Word bank
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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 put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. branch — a division
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. dip — to sink
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. key — the most important part
  11. band — a ring
  12. key — in music
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. stock — shares
  16. lie — to recline
  17. stock — goods
  18. key — for a lock
  19. band — a music group
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. hide — to keep secret

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