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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. branch — a division
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. fork — in a road
  7. track — a path
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. track — to keep track
  10. track — a song
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. bulb — for light
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. lie — to recline
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. plane — a tool
  21. bulb — for light
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. lie — an untruth

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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