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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 120 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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. spring — a coil
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. cue — a signal
  9. current — electric
  10. mug — a face
  11. spring — the season
  12. current — happening now
  13. cue — for pool
  14. cue — a hint
  15. spring — of water
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. branch — a division
  19. current — of water
  20. deal — to handle
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mug — a cup
  23. bank — of a river
  24. bank — for money

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