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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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. bound — tied together
  5. mark — a trace
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. mark — a grade
  8. branch — a division
  9. bound — certain
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. bound — obliged
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. shower — rain
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. shower — to wash
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. deal — to handle

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