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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · mark · pass · kid · scale · season · mouse · cabinet

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. pass — a permit
  3. kid — child
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  9. kid — to tease
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. season — of the year
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. scale — size or range
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. mark — a grade
  19. branch — a division
  20. season — in sport
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. scale — in music
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. mouse — the animal

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