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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 · stock · object · mug · net · staff · face · branch

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. object — an aim
  3. face — part of the head
  4. net — in sport
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. net — for catching
  7. stock — shares
  8. face — to confront
  9. net — after costs
  10. staff — employees
  11. staff — a stick
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. object — a thing
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mug — to rob
  16. staff — employees
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. face — to point toward
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. mug — a face
  21. stock — goods
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. object — to protest
  24. pitcher — a jug

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