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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. ground — crushed
  3. fine — high quality
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. pass — a permit
  6. bear — the animal
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. fork — in a road
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. branch — a division
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. ground — a position
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. fine — all right
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. ground — the earth
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. bear — the animal

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