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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: stick · branch · racket · nail · toast · chip · can · cue

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. cue — a hint
  7. can — to be able to
  8. cue — for pool
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. cue — a signal
  11. branch — a division
  12. chip — to eat
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. toast — bread
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. chip — for betting
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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