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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: mouse · bat · branch · snap · bore · mug · leaves · shower

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. bat — the animal
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. bat — in an idiom
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. bore — to drill
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. snap — to click
  15. mug — to rob
  16. bat — for baseball
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. shower — rain
  19. mug — a cup
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. bore — to tire
  22. shower — to wash
  23. branch — a division
  24. mug — a face

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