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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: spell · perch · firm · branch · jam · current · lie · mug

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. branch — a division
  3. mug — a cup
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. firm — decided
  6. spell — a short time
  7. lie — to recline
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. spell — letters
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. perch — the fish
  12. firm — a company
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. spell — magic
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. mug — a face
  18. current — electric
  19. current — happening now
  20. mug — to rob
  21. current — of water
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. firm — steady
  24. lie — an untruth

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