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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: ground · branch · key · coach · deal · stock · wake · fan

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. deal — to handle
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. key — in music
  7. key — the most important part
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. ground — a position
  14. ground — crushed
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. key — for a lock
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. branch — a division
  20. ground — the earth
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. wake — a trail
  23. stock — goods
  24. stock — shares

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