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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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. cue — for pool
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. race — humankind
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. race — a contest
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. season — of the year
  13. bulb — for light
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. season — in sport
  18. cue — a hint
  19. wake — a trail
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. cue — a signal
  22. bulb — for light
  23. branch — a division
  24. bulb — of a plant

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