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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
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: branch · stick · season · pitcher · fork · row · pit · tube

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. row — to paddle
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. season — of the year
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. fork — in a road
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. tube — the underground
  11. pit — in a race
  12. tube — a container
  13. season — in sport
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. row — a line
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pit — a hole
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. branch — a division
  24. fork — to eat 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