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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 · rash · key · racket · fine · field · rest · bay

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. rash — a series
  4. fine — high quality
  5. field — for sport
  6. rest — what's left
  7. field — farmland
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. key — the most important part
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. rash — hasty
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. key — in music
  15. fine — all right
  16. branch — a division
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. field — a subject
  19. rest — a break
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. key — for a lock
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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