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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. suit — to fit
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. bulb — for light
  6. drill — army training
  7. bear — the animal
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. board — to get on
  10. bulb — for light
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. drill — a practice
  15. mine — for digging
  16. bear — the animal
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. suit — clothes
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. suit — in cards
  23. drill — the tool
  24. board — a committee

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