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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: branch · bear · trunk · mug · rock · arm · racket · present

  1. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. branch — a division
  3. bear — the animal
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. mug — a cup
  7. present — there
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. mug — a face
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. present — the time now
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. rock — music
  18. bear — the animal
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. mug — to rob
  23. rock — a stone
  24. bear — to put up with

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