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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 120 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: bear · net · rock · branch · chip · prune · cue · suit

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. branch — a division
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. prune — to trim
  5. net — for catching
  6. net — in sport
  7. bear — the animal
  8. chip — for betting
  9. cue — a signal
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. cue — a hint
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. rock — music
  16. rock — a stone
  17. prune — to trim
  18. cue — for pool
  19. suit — to fit
  20. net — after costs
  21. chip — to eat
  22. suit — clothes
  23. bear — the animal
  24. suit — in cards

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