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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. tube — the underground
  4. pop — soda
  5. spring — the season
  6. cue — a signal
  7. pop — music
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. mug — a cup
  10. key — the most important part
  11. tube — a container
  12. spring — of water
  13. mug — to rob
  14. cue — a hint
  15. key — in music
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. cue — for pool
  19. deal — to handle
  20. pop — to visit
  21. spring — a coil
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. mug — a face
  24. key — for a lock

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