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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: spell · toast · fine · bark · bulb · coach · branch · temple

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. branch — a division
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. spell — magic
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. spell — a short time
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. bulb — for light
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. bark — to shout
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. fine — high quality
  19. spell — letters
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. bulb — for light
  23. fine — all right
  24. toast — 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