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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 · bulb · bank · dip · prune · bay · lean · toast

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bulb — for light
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. bank — for money
  6. branch — a division
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. lean — thin
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. bank — of a river
  13. lean — to bend
  14. prune — to trim
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. dip — to sink
  18. toast — bread
  19. prune — to trim
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. bulb — for light
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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