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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. rest — what's left
  4. rest — what's left
  5. pit — a hole
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. rush — hurry
  8. cap — a lid
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. cap — of ice
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. dip — to sink
  16. rest — a break
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. cap — a hat
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. branch — a division
  22. pit — in a race
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. rush — to hurry

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