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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 116 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: mate · branch · bound · mark · plane · bay · bark · hide

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. plane — a tool
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. branch — a division
  6. bark — to shout
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. mark — a trace
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. mate — to breed
  13. mate — a friend
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. bark — a dog's sound
  19. bound — obliged
  20. bound — tied together
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. bound — certain
  24. mate — a partner

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