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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. march — the month
  4. net — after costs
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. net — in sport
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. stand — to bear
  15. branch — a division
  16. toast — bread
  17. net — for catching
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. march — music
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. march — the month
  24. leaves — lets stay

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