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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: branch · pass · craft · fine · bound · content · scale · lie

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. bound — tied together
  4. scale — size or range
  5. bound — obliged
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. pass — a permit
  8. content — the amount
  9. lie — to recline
  10. craft — boats
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. fine — high quality
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. content — happy
  19. craft — a skill
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. fine — all right
  22. bound — certain
  23. branch — a division
  24. scale — in music

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