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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.

Make a worksheet

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: sharp · fan · branch · net · coach · key · current · bear

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. sharp — clever
  3. branch — a division
  4. bear — the animal
  5. current — of water
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. key — the most important part
  9. key — in music
  10. current — electric
  11. current — happening now
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. key — for a lock
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. bear — the animal
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. net — for catching
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. net — after costs
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. net — in sport
  24. sharp — with an edge

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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