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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. tear — from crying
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. bank — for money
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. mark — a trace
  10. board — a committee
  11. bank — for money
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. tear — to rip
  14. mark — a grade
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. tear — from crying
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. board — to get on
  20. deal — to handle
  21. wax — to grow
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. bank — of a river

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