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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: rush · cell · toast · branch · craft · pop · bear · plane

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. plane — a tool
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. branch — a division
  7. pop — to visit
  8. craft — a skill
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. cell — in biology
  11. cell — a phone
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. bear — the animal
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. pop — music
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. pop — soda
  19. bear — the animal
  20. rush — hurry
  21. toast — bread
  22. craft — boats
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. plane — in geometry

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