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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. chair — a professorship
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. bound — certain
  8. branch — a division
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. key — the most important part
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. bound — obliged
  15. key — in music
  16. scale — in music
  17. bound — tied together
  18. swing — to play on
  19. key — for a lock
  20. chair — a leader
  21. swing — music
  22. swing — in golf
  23. scale — size or range
  24. chair — to sit on

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