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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 116 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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. branch — a division
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. season — in sport
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. net — after costs
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. current — happening now
  11. net — in sport
  12. season — of the year
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. current — of water
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. current — electric
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. net — for catching
  21. suit — to fit
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. suit — in cards
  24. suit — clothes

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