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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. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. present — a gift
  3. mark — a grade
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. march — the month
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. fall — the season
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. present — there
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — a tin
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. march — music
  14. can — to be able to
  15. present — the time now
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. season — of the year
  18. fall — to drop
  19. branch — a division
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. mark — a trace
  22. march — the month
  23. season — in sport
  24. fall — to drop

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