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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 116 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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. rest — what's left
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. pop — soda
  5. branch — a division
  6. pop — music
  7. rush — hurry
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. bank — for money
  10. rest — a break
  11. face — to confront
  12. bank — of a river
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. face — to point toward
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. face — part of the head
  19. rest — what's left
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. land — to come down
  22. land — a country
  23. bank — for money
  24. land — ground

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