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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: branch · sharp · foot · last · vault · rash · jam · fork

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. branch — a division
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. rash — hasty
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. last — final
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. vault — a safe
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. fork — in a road
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. foot — a measure
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. last — finally
  23. last — to go on
  24. rash — a series

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