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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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. prune — to trim
  3. mark — a grade
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. branch — a division
  6. current — electric
  7. current — of water
  8. chest — of your body
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. key — for a lock
  11. key — in music
  12. pit — in a race
  13. chest — a box
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. current — happening now
  17. chest — of your body
  18. key — the most important part
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. pit — a hole
  23. mark — a trace
  24. prune — to trim

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