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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: branch · bay · mine · pass · bulb · mug · march · face

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. branch — a division
  3. march — the month
  4. mug — to rob
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. march — music
  10. face — to confront
  11. face — to point toward
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. face — part of the head
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. mine — for digging
  18. bulb — for light
  19. mug — a face
  20. pass — a permit
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. march — the month
  24. bulb — for light

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