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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. mark — a trace
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. deal — to handle
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. key — for a lock
  8. bore — to drill
  9. key — the most important part
  10. key — in music
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. stand — to bear
  19. bore — to tire
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. mate — to breed
  22. pitch — completely
  23. mate — a friend
  24. mate — a partner

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