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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. can — a tin
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. scale — size or range
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. stock — goods
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. stock — shares
  16. can — a tin
  17. branch — a division
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. scale — in music
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. can — to be able to
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. fan — a supporter

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