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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 120 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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. plane — a tool
  3. bark — to shout
  4. branch — a division
  5. scale — in music
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. scale — size or range
  8. bank — for money
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. pop — to visit
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. pop — soda
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. bank — of a river
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. rush — hurry
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. bank — for money
  23. pop — music
  24. plane — in geometry

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