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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 116 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. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. craft — a skill
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. net — in sport
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. mate — to breed
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. net — after costs
  9. net — for catching
  10. key — in music
  11. charge — in control
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. key — for a lock
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. mate — a partner
  16. key — the most important part
  17. charge — electricity
  18. rock — music
  19. mate — a friend
  20. craft — boats
  21. rock — a stone
  22. branch — a division
  23. charge — a price
  24. craft — a handicraft

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