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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. season — in sport
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. chair — a leader
  6. snap — to click
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. pit — in a race
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. branch — a division
  11. bound — tied together
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. bound — obliged
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. pit — a hole
  22. season — of the year
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. bound — certain

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