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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: track · wave · bound · field · can · arm · branch · pitcher

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  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. wave — with your hand
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. branch — a division
  5. field — for sport
  6. bound — tied together
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. track — a path
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. bound — obliged
  11. track — to keep track
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. field — a subject
  14. can — a tin
  15. track — a song
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. can — a tin
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. bound — certain
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. field — farmland
  24. can — to be able to

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