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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
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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 · branch · spell · plane · deal · ball · chair · squash

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. spell — magic
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. branch — a division
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. plane — a tool
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. spell — a short time
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. deal — to handle
  13. squash — to crush
  14. squash — the sport
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. track — a song
  17. track — a path
  18. chair — a leader
  19. chair — a professorship
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. spell — letters
  22. track — to keep track
  23. ball — a dance
  24. plane — an aircraft

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