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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.

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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: branch · bank · toast · dip · prune · fine · pit · bear

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. branch — a division
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. pit — in a race
  6. pit — a hole
  7. bank — for money
  8. fine — high quality
  9. bank — for money
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. bear — the animal
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. fine — all right
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. prune — to trim
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. toast — bread
  21. bank — of a river
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. prune — to trim
  24. bear — the animal

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