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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 112 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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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 · key · cue · hand · leaves · stand

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. cue — a hint
  3. branch — a division
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. hand — help
  6. key — for a lock
  7. stand — to bear
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. key — the most important part
  12. hand — in cards
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. cue — a signal
  17. key — in music
  18. cue — for pool

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