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

Word bank: firm · lie · pop · mine · branch · mark · prune · key

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. firm — decided
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. mark — a trace
  5. branch — a division
  6. pop — soda
  7. mine — for digging
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. prune — to trim
  10. key — the most important part
  11. lie — to recline
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. key — in music
  14. prune — to trim
  15. key — for a lock
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. firm — steady
  18. pop — to visit
  19. firm — a company
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. mark — a grade
  23. pop — music
  24. mark — to pay attention

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