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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. rock — a stone
  4. toast — bread
  5. branch — a division
  6. hand — help
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. mate — to breed
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. mate — a friend
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. mark — a grade
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. mate — a partner
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. hand — in cards
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. rock — music
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. mark — a trace

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