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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: rest · craft · jam · fine · bass · scale · branch · rush

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. rest — what's left
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. craft — a skill
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. bass — the fish
  8. rest — a break
  9. bass — low music
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. rest — what's left
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. scale — size or range
  14. fine — high quality
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. fine — all right
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. branch — a division
  19. craft — boats
  20. scale — in music
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. branch — of a bank

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