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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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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: leaves · pit · branch · fan · mark · chip · cell · bay

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. He was locked up in a ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. branch — a division
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. chip — for betting
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. mark — a grade
  11. mark — a trace
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. cell — in a prison
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. cell — in biology
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. chip — to eat
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. pit — in a race
  23. cell — a phone
  24. pit — a hole

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