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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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. bore — to drill
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. current — happening now
  7. fall — to drop
  8. bore — to tire
  9. bound — certain
  10. fall — the season
  11. bound — tied together
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. branch — a division
  16. pass — a permit
  17. bound — obliged
  18. current — of water
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. fall — to drop
  23. toast — bread
  24. current — electric

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