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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 124 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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. root — of a plant
  3. saw — the tool
  4. root — of a word
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. saw — the tool
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. board — a committee
  9. current — electric
  10. root — the cause
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bass — low music
  13. current — of water
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. branch — a division
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. current — happening now
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. bass — the fish
  24. board — to get 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