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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. branch — a division
  4. suit — to fit
  5. shower — rain
  6. net — in sport
  7. net — after costs
  8. shower — to wash
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. net — for catching
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. suit — clothes
  13. charge — in control
  14. charge — a price
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. charge — electricity
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. pit — a hole
  20. rush — hurry
  21. suit — in cards
  22. pit — in a race
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. plane — a tool

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