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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 120 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: bank · scale · net · dip · chest · vault · branch · can

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. branch — a division
  3. dip — to sink
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. net — in sport
  7. scale — in music
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. net — for catching
  10. bank — of a river
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. chest — a box
  13. net — after costs
  14. bank — for money
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. chest — of your body
  17. bank — for money
  18. vault — a safe
  19. can — a tin
  20. scale — size or range
  21. can — a tin
  22. chest — of your body
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. can — to be able to

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