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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: file · mug · nail · rest · perch · date · toast · branch

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. rest — what's left
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. branch — a division
  6. date — the fruit
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. mug — a face
  9. file — a document
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. rest — a break
  13. mug — a cup
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. rest — what's left
  17. file — a tool
  18. perch — the fish
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. file — a line of people
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. mug — to rob
  24. toast — bread

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