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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 120 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'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. band — a music group
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. can — a tin
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. can — to be able to
  9. track — to keep track
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. mark — a trace
  12. can — a tin
  13. mark — a grade
  14. branch — a division
  15. scale — in music
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. track — a song
  18. band — a ring
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. track — a path
  23. scale — size or range
  24. mark — to pay attention

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