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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.

Make a worksheet

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: racket · drill · fine · nail · key · perch · branch · object

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. key — for a lock
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. drill — a practice
  6. object — a thing
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. drill — army training
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. object — an aim
  15. fine — all right
  16. perch — the fish
  17. fine — high quality
  18. object — to protest
  19. key — the most important part
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. drill — the tool
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. branch — a division

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