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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. pop — music
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. pound — a weight
  5. ground — the earth
  6. mark — a trace
  7. pound — to hit hard
  8. mark — a grade
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. pound — for dogs
  14. pit — in a race
  15. rock — a stone
  16. pop — soda
  17. rock — music
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. pit — a hole
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. ground — a position
  23. ground — crushed
  24. pop — to visit

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