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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. spell — a short time
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. cue — for pool
  6. cue — a hint
  7. mug — a cup
  8. mug — to rob
  9. mug — a face
  10. current — happening now
  11. perch — the fish
  12. spell — letters
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. spell — magic
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. current — of water
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. cue — a signal
  21. stand — to bear
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. current — electric
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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