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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. branch — a division
  3. net — after costs
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. net — for catching
  7. mug — a face
  8. firm — a company
  9. mug — to rob
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. ground — a position
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. row — a line
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. net — in sport
  17. mug — a cup
  18. ground — the earth
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. firm — steady
  21. row — to paddle
  22. firm — decided
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. ground — crushed

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