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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: pop · cabinet · branch · bay · leaves · bound · deal · straw

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. deal — to handle
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. branch — a division
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. bound — certain
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. pop — to visit
  13. bound — obliged
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. bound — tied together
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. pop — soda
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. pop — music
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. deal — an agreement

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