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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 116 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: bulb · bay · shower · nail · mate · bank · mark · branch

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. mark — a trace
  3. bulb — for light
  4. mate — a partner
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. bank — of a river
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. shower — rain
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. shower — to wash
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. mate — to breed
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bank — for money
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. mate — a friend
  24. bank — for money

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