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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.

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: wake · coach · branch · mouse · toast · pop · key · bear

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. branch — a division
  5. pop — music
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. key — in music
  10. pop — to visit
  11. toast — bread
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. bear — the animal
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. wake — a trail
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. key — for a lock
  21. key — the most important part
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. pop — soda
  24. bear — to put up with

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