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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. rock — music
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. swing — in golf
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. mark — a trace
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. current — of water
  12. bear — the animal
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — electric
  15. bear — the animal
  16. mark — a grade
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. swing — to play on
  21. swing — music
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. rock — a stone
  24. dip — to sink

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