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

Word bank: branch · suit · pop · dip · saw · rash

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. saw — the tool
  3. branch — a division
  4. rash — a series
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. rash — hasty
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. pop — soda
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. suit — to fit
  13. pop — music
  14. suit — clothes
  15. saw — the tool
  16. pop — to visit
  17. suit — in cards
  18. dip — to sink

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