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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 · patient · swing · fork · suit · toast · jam · field

  1. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. field — farmland
  4. suit — in cards
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. toast — bread
  7. swing — music
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. suit — clothes
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. field — a subject
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. suit — to fit
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. swing — in golf
  20. fork — in a road
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. swing — to play on
  24. branch — a division

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