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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: branch · rush · craft · object · wave · chip · jam · bay

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. branch — a division
  3. chip — to eat
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. chip — for betting
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. object — an aim
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. object — a thing
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. object — to protest
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. craft — a skill
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. craft — boats
  23. rush — hurry
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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