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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. game — a match
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. branch — a division
  10. rest — what's left
  11. game — wild animals
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. toast — bread
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. rest — a break
  17. stand — to bear
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. vault — a safe
  21. date — the fruit
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. stand — for spectators

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