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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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Word bank
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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  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. leaves — to go away
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. suit — to fit
  5. bound — certain
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. spell — a short time
  8. bear — the animal
  9. spell — magic
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. suit — clothes
  12. key — for a lock
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. branch — a division
  15. spell — letters
  16. bound — obliged
  17. key — in music
  18. key — the most important part
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. bound — tied together
  21. suit — in cards
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. branch — of a bank
  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