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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. saw — the tool
  3. fine — high quality
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. saw — the tool
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. fine — all right
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bound — obliged
  13. pass — a permit
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. bound — certain
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. deal — to handle
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. bound — tied together
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. stand — to bear
  24. deal — a big deal

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