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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. mate — to breed
  4. branch — a division
  5. mate — a partner
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. rock — a stone
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. current — of water
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. wax — to grow
  13. mate — a friend
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. rock — music
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. current — electric
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. board — a committee
  22. board — to get on
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. current — happening now

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