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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. bound — tied together
  3. shower — rain
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. shower — to wash
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. track — to keep track
  8. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  9. bound — certain
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. bound — obliged
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. track — a path
  17. branch — a division
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. kid — child
  23. track — a song
  24. kid — to tease

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