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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 · object · nail · face · leaves · race · season · cap

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. season — of the year
  4. object — an aim
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. cap — a lid
  7. race — the arms race
  8. face — part of the head
  9. object — a thing
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. object — to protest
  15. cap — of ice
  16. season — in sport
  17. face — to confront
  18. cap — a hat
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. race — a contest
  22. face — to point toward
  23. race — humankind
  24. branch — a division

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