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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: kick · fan · object · spell · toast · ball · firm · branch

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. object — a thing
  4. firm — a company
  5. ball — a great time
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. firm — decided
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. object — to protest
  14. spell — magic
  15. object — an aim
  16. spell — a short time
  17. ball — a dance
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. branch — a division
  20. firm — steady
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. toast — bread
  24. spell — letters

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