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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 120 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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. fall — the season
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. net — for catching
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. pass — a permit
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. suit — in cards
  11. bear — the animal
  12. deal — to handle
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. net — in sport
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. bear — the animal
  18. suit — to fit
  19. net — after costs
  20. fall — to drop
  21. branch — a division
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. fall — to drop

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