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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: pass · march · kid · branch · mark · leaves · date · rush

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. branch — a division
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. march — the month
  8. date — the fruit
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. kid — child
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. kid — to tease
  13. rush — hurry
  14. mark — a grade
  15. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  16. march — music
  17. mark — a trace
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. pass — a permit
  21. march — the month
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rush — a thrill

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