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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. present — the time now
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. object — an aim
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. saw — the tool
  7. sharp — clever
  8. bank — for money
  9. track — a path
  10. shower — to wash
  11. object — a thing
  12. saw — the tool
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. bank — of a river
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. present — there
  17. object — to protest
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. bank — for money
  20. branch — a division
  21. track — a song
  22. track — to keep track
  23. present — a gift
  24. shower — rain

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