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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: march · toast · branch · stand · deal · can · foot · key

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. key — in music
  4. key — for a lock
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. deal — to handle
  7. can — to be able to
  8. stand — to bear
  9. march — the month
  10. toast — bread
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. can — a tin
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. can — a tin
  17. key — the most important part
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. march — the month
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. branch — a division
  24. foot — a measure

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