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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The ball is in your ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. court — of law
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. plane — a tool
  6. court — for sport
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. key — in music
  10. deal — to handle
  11. branch — a division
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. cap — of ice
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. key — the most important part
  17. cap — a lid
  18. cap — a hat
  19. court — of a king
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. chip — to eat
  23. chip — for betting
  24. key — for a lock

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