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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
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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: cabinet · can · track · scale · game · bark · branch · suit

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. game — wild animals
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. branch — a division
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. track — to keep track
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. game — a match
  9. track — a path
  10. scale — in music
  11. suit — to fit
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. can — a tin
  14. scale — size or range
  15. track — a song
  16. bark — a dog's sound
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. suit — clothes
  21. can — a tin
  22. bark — to shout
  23. bark — of a tree
  24. can — to be able to

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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