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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. chip — to eat
  3. bound — tied together
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. branch — a division
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. chip — for betting
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. bound — obliged
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. net — for catching
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. net — in sport
  16. deal — to handle
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. net — after costs
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. bound — certain
  24. leaves — to go away

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