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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 works in a ________________ mill.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. cue — for pool
  5. stock — goods
  6. hand — help
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bear — the animal
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bound — obliged
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bound — certain
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. cue — a hint
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. branch — a division
  18. cue — a signal
  19. stock — shares
  20. hand — in cards
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. trunk — of a tree

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