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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. net — in sport
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. branch — a division
  6. root — of a word
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. mark — a trace
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. mark — a grade
  13. root — the cause
  14. season — in sport
  15. net — for catching
  16. net — after costs
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. root — of a plant
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. season — of the year
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. pass — a permit
  24. fan — a supporter

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