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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: mug · pass · cabinet · branch · sharp · mark · march · fork

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. sharp — clever
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. pass — a permit
  12. fork — in a road
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. march — the month
  15. mug — a face
  16. march — the month
  17. mark — a grade
  18. mug — to rob
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. mark — a trace
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. branch — a division
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. mug — a cup

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