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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: chip · toast · mouse · pitcher · jam · stick · nail · branch

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. chip — to eat
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. branch — a division
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. chip — for betting
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. toast — bread
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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