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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.

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: mark · root · rash · season · branch · clip · staff · stick

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. rash — a series
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. branch — a division
  6. clip — for paper
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. rash — hasty
  9. root — of a word
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. root — of a plant
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. clip — a video
  14. root — the cause
  15. mark — a grade
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. staff — employees
  18. season — in sport
  19. mark — a trace
  20. staff — a stick
  21. staff — employees
  22. clip — to cut
  23. season — of the year
  24. rash — on the skin

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