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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. bulb — for light
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. wake — a trail
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. bank — for money
  8. season — in sport
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. season — of the year
  13. bank — for money
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. bulb — for light
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. plane — a tool
  18. rush — hurry
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. branch — a division
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. rush — a thrill

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