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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.

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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: pitcher · branch · suit · face · mate · cue · fine · bowl

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. mate — to breed
  4. branch — a division
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. face — to point toward
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. fine — high quality
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. suit — in cards
  11. mate — a partner
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. cue — a signal
  15. suit — clothes
  16. face — to confront
  17. suit — to fit
  18. mate — a friend
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. fine — all right
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. cue — for pool
  24. face — part of the head

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