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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: leaves · prune · branch · coach · board · pitch · dip · season

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. prune — to trim
  4. season — in sport
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. pitch — completely
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. dip — to sink
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. branch — a division
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. board — to get on
  14. prune — to trim
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. season — of the year
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. board — a committee
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. branch — of a bank

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