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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. dip — to sink
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. craft — a skill
  7. mark — a grade
  8. deal — to handle
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. branch — a division
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. craft — boats
  16. pitch — completely
  17. current — electric
  18. current — of water
  19. rash — a series
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. rash — hasty
  22. current — happening now
  23. mark — a trace
  24. dip — to dunk

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