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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: mug · branch · land · bear · march · date · bay · bank

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. march — the month
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. date — the fruit
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. land — ground
  7. bear — the animal
  8. mug — to rob
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. bank — for money
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. land — to come down
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. march — the month
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. march — music
  18. bank — of a river
  19. mug — a face
  20. land — a country
  21. bear — the animal
  22. branch — a division
  23. mug — a cup
  24. bank — for money

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