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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: present · object · branch · mark · tube · bulb · board · saw

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. mark — a trace
  3. board — to get on
  4. present — the time now
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. saw — the tool
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. bulb — for light
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. present — there
  12. mark — a grade
  13. saw — the tool
  14. board — a committee
  15. bulb — for light
  16. object — a thing
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. branch — a division
  19. tube — the underground
  20. object — an aim
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. object — to protest
  23. tube — a container
  24. present — a gift

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