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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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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: rock · rush · pass · saw · perch · branch · foot · bank

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. bank — for money
  3. bank — of a river
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. rush — hurry
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. rock — a stone
  11. branch — a division
  12. foot — a measure
  13. perch — the fish
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. saw — the tool
  17. pass — a permit
  18. bank — for money
  19. saw — the tool
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. rock — music
  24. pass — to succeed

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