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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. mug — a face
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. mug — a cup
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. bear — the animal
  7. shower — rain
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. prune — to trim
  11. prune — to trim
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. mug — to rob
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. bulb — for light
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bear — the animal
  22. shower — to wash
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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