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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: branch · bank · toast · season · foot · rock · bay · craft

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. craft — boats
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. foot — a measure
  6. bank — for money
  7. craft — a skill
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. season — of the year
  13. branch — a division
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. toast — bread
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. bank — for money
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. bank — of a river
  20. rock — a stone
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. rock — music

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