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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. cap — of ice
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. bass — low music
  6. suit — in cards
  7. mine — for digging
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bank — for money
  10. suit — to fit
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. suit — clothes
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. mug — a cup
  17. bank — for money
  18. mug — to rob
  19. bass — the fish
  20. cap — a lid
  21. mug — a face
  22. bank — of a river
  23. branch — a division
  24. cap — a hat

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