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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. hand — in cards
  3. chip — for betting
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. branch — a division
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. bear — the animal
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. hand — help
  18. bulb — for light
  19. plane — a tool
  20. bulb — for light
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. bear — the animal
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. chip — to eat

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