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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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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: net · snap · nail · branch · degree · fine · toast · current

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. snap — to click
  5. current — of water
  6. degree — temperature
  7. net — in sport
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. current — happening now
  11. branch — a division
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. net — for catching
  14. current — electric
  15. degree — from a university
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. fine — all right
  18. fine — high quality
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. toast — bread
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. degree — an amount
  24. net — after costs

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