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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 116 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: cabinet · pass · spell · deal · bark · branch · swing · ball

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. bark — to shout
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. swing — in golf
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. spell — magic
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. ball — a great time
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. ball — a dance
  11. pass — a permit
  12. swing — to play on
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. branch — a division
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. swing — music
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. deal — to handle
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. spell — letters

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