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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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. row — to paddle
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. key — in music
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. key — for a lock
  7. branch — a division
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bass — low music
  11. mate — a partner
  12. mate — a friend
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. swing — to play on
  15. key — the most important part
  16. fine — high quality
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. row — a line
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. bass — the fish
  22. swing — in golf
  23. swing — music
  24. fine — all right

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