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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. branch — a division
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. stand — to bear
  6. bank — for money
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. hand — help
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. saw — the tool
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. hand — in cards
  22. bank — for money
  23. bank — of a river
  24. racket — for tennis

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