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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: scale · branch · key · bound · temple · press · suit · wound

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. bound — tied together
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. bound — obliged
  5. suit — in cards
  6. suit — to fit
  7. scale — size or range
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. key — in music
  11. wound — an injury
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bound — certain
  14. key — the most important part
  15. key — for a lock
  16. press — to push
  17. wound — an injury
  18. branch — a division
  19. scale — in music
  20. press — a publisher
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. suit — clothes
  23. press — newspapers
  24. temple — side of the head

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