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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.

Make a worksheet

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: wake · mouse · toast · fan · branch · trunk · pass · cue

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. wake — a trail
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. pass — a permit
  10. toast — bread
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. branch — a division
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. cue — a hint
  19. cue — for pool
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. cue — a signal
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. fan — a supporter

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