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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 120 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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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: staff · ball · bay · racket · branch · bank · snap · foot

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. branch — a division
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. foot — a measure
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. staff — a stick
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. ball — a great time
  10. ball — a dance
  11. staff — employees
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. snap — to click
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. bank — for money
  20. bank — of a river
  21. bank — for money
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. staff — employees
  24. racket — a loud noise

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