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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.

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 · can · object · straw · season · rash · land · scale

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. land — ground
  3. land — a country
  4. can — a tin
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. season — of the year
  8. object — an aim
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. rash — hasty
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. season — in sport
  13. object — to protest
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. scale — size or range
  16. scale — in music
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. object — a thing
  19. land — to come down
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. can — to be able to
  22. branch — a division
  23. can — a tin
  24. season — to add flavour

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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