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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: lean · row · branch · fine · roll · toast · saw · fork

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. saw — the tool
  4. branch — a division
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. row — a line
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. row — to paddle
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. roll — a cake
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. fine — high quality
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. lean — to bend
  18. saw — the tool
  19. fine — all right
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. lean — thin
  22. toast — bread
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. fork — in a road

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