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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. tear — from crying
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. branch — a division
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. tear — to rip
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. season — of the year
  22. tear — from crying
  23. season — in sport
  24. leaves — lets stay

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