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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. spell — magic
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. present — a gift
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. present — the time now
  11. spell — letters
  12. land — a country
  13. spell — a short time
  14. present — there
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. wax — to grow
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. land — to come down
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. land — ground
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. bay — a horse colour

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