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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. fall — to drop
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. scale — size or range
  8. fall — to drop
  9. deal — to handle
  10. can — a tin
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. can — a tin
  15. fall — the season
  16. branch — a division
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. bulb — for light
  21. scale — in music
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. can — to be able to

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