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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: pitcher · fine · kick · mug · branch · rash · season · track

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. track — to keep track
  4. season — in sport
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. rash — a series
  9. kick — in football
  10. fine — high quality
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. rash — hasty
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. mug — to rob
  15. track — a song
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. season — of the year
  19. branch — a division
  20. mug — a cup
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. track — a path
  23. fine — all right
  24. mug — a face

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