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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. cue — a signal
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. mark — a grade
  5. pass — a permit
  6. rush — hurry
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. saw — the tool
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. saw — the tool
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. branch — a division
  14. cue — a hint
  15. mark — a trace
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. pit — a hole
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. pit — in a race
  20. cue — for pool
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. rush — to hurry

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