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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. last — to go on
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. lean — thin
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. mug — a face
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. firm — a company
  13. roll — a cake
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mug — to rob
  16. last — finally
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. last — final
  19. roll — a list
  20. branch — a division
  21. firm — steady
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. lean — to bend
  24. foot — a measure

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