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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. bass — low music
  6. bore — to drill
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. rock — music
  10. scale — size or range
  11. bore — to tire
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. mate — a partner
  14. mate — a friend
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. branch — a division
  19. rock — a stone
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. bass — the fish
  22. mate — to breed
  23. date — the fruit
  24. scale — in music

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