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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: rash · key · branch · mark · fall · land · rest · suit

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. suit — in cards
  3. mark — a grade
  4. land — ground
  5. branch — a division
  6. key — for a lock
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. key — in music
  9. fall — to drop
  10. rest — a break
  11. land — to come down
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. rash — hasty
  14. mark — a trace
  15. rash — a series
  16. suit — to fit
  17. rest — what's left
  18. fall — the season
  19. land — a country
  20. key — the most important part
  21. rest — what's left
  22. suit — clothes
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. fall — to drop

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