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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
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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: pitch · deal · toast · scale · trunk · bark · bass · branch

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. scale — size or range
  6. bark — to shout
  7. scale — in music
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. bass — the fish
  15. toast — bread
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. bass — low music
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. branch — a division
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. pitch — completely
  23. deal — to handle
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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