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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 · cell · ball · band · date · can · chip · leaves

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. He was locked up in a ________________.
  8. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. can — a tin
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. cell — in a prison
  8. cell — a phone
  9. can — a tin
  10. cell — in biology
  11. branch — a division
  12. ball — a great time
  13. ball — a dance
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. band — a music group
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. can — to be able to
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. band — a ring
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. date — the fruit
  23. chip — to eat
  24. chip — for betting

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