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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: track · prune · branch · pitch · straw · can · cue · toast

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. track — a path
  3. track — a song
  4. cue — a hint
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. can — to be able to
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. toast — bread
  11. branch — a division
  12. cue — a signal
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. can — a tin
  15. pitch — completely
  16. prune — to trim
  17. straw — to clutch at straws
  18. track — to keep track
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. prune — to trim
  23. cue — for pool
  24. straw — dry grass

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