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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 116 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: stick · bore · branch · scale · ball · bear · deal · bay

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. bear — the animal
  3. ball — a great time
  4. deal — to handle
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. bore — to tire
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. scale — size or range
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. bore — to drill
  12. scale — in music
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. branch — a division
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. ball — a dance
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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