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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: branch · track · bear · spell · toast · plane

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. bear — the animal
  5. spell — magic
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. track — a path
  8. track — to keep track
  9. spell — a short time
  10. track — a song
  11. bear — the animal
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. plane — a tool
  14. toast — bread
  15. branch — a division
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. spell — letters

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