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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. rash — hasty
  7. can — a tin
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. rash — a series
  12. can — to be able to
  13. staff — employees
  14. mate — a partner
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. mate — a friend
  17. staff — employees
  18. mine — for digging
  19. snap — to click
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. mate — to breed
  22. branch — a division
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. staff — a stick

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