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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: file · branch · prune · mouse · board · deal · racket · cue

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. branch — a division
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. file — a tool
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. board — to get on
  9. cue — a signal
  10. deal — to handle
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. board — a committee
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. prune — to trim
  17. file — a document
  18. cue — a hint
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. prune — to trim
  22. cue — for pool
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. racket — a loud noise

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