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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: lie · mine · bore · bass · rush · cue · branch · jam

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. cue — a hint
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. bass — the fish
  6. bore — to drill
  7. lie — to recline
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. cue — for pool
  10. bass — low music
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. branch — a division
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. cue — a signal
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. mine — for digging
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rush — hurry

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