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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. branch — a division
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. rush — hurry
  10. bass — the fish
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. rash — a series
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. present — the time now
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. present — a gift
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. present — there
  22. rash — hasty
  23. bass — low music
  24. branch — of a bank

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