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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. degree — from a university
  4. degree — temperature
  5. cap — of ice
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. branch — a division
  8. can — a tin
  9. cap — a lid
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. can — a tin
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. track — a path
  15. track — a song
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. degree — an amount
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. can — to be able to
  20. tube — the underground
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. tube — a container
  23. cap — a hat
  24. track — to keep track

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