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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. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. David sat on the ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. branch — a division
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. swing — to play on
  6. bore — to drill
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. bore — to tire
  10. swing — music
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. sharp — clever
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. bulb — for light
  17. fine — all right
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. bulb — for light
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. fine — high quality
  24. cabinet — ministers

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