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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. charge — in control
  9. charge — a price
  10. perch — the fish
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rush — hurry
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. charge — electricity
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. mug — a face
  18. sharp — clever
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mug — a cup
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. branch — a division

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