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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 120 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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. bear — the animal
  4. mug — to rob
  5. staff — employees
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. key — in music
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. mug — a face
  10. staff — employees
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. mug — a cup
  13. key — the most important part
  14. key — for a lock
  15. saw — the tool
  16. rash — hasty
  17. branch — a division
  18. saw — the tool
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. staff — a stick
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. rash — a series
  23. bear — the animal
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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