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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. rock — music
  4. cue — for pool
  5. club — for golf
  6. content — the amount
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. foot — a measure
  9. cue — a hint
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. cue — a signal
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. branch — a division
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. rock — a stone
  19. club — for dancing
  20. content — happy
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. club — a group
  24. foot — part of the body

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