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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: key · racket · arm · can · saw · branch · row · toast

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. saw — the tool
  4. can — a tin
  5. toast — bread
  6. can — to be able to
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. key — for a lock
  9. branch — a division
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. saw — the tool
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. key — in music
  15. row — a line
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. can — a tin
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. key — the most important part
  21. row — to paddle
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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