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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. mark — a trace
  3. suit — clothes
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. branch — a division
  7. fall — to drop
  8. rock — music
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. saw — the tool
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. fall — to drop
  15. suit — to fit
  16. saw — the tool
  17. rock — a stone
  18. mark — a grade
  19. suit — in cards
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. fall — the season
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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