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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: toast · perch · lean · racket · branch · jam · bowl · fan

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. perch — the fish
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. toast — bread
  12. lean — to bend
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. lean — thin
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. jam — a tight spot

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