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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 116 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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. chair — a leader
  4. bank — of a river
  5. root — of a plant
  6. saw — the tool
  7. saw — the tool
  8. pit — a hole
  9. rock — a stone
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. root — the cause
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. bank — for money
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. branch — a division
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. rock — music
  22. stand — to bear
  23. pit — in a race
  24. root — of a word

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