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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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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: staff · wake · shower · branch · cue · suit · bowl · stand

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. suit — in cards
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. staff — employees
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. branch — a division
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. staff — a stick
  10. wake — a trail
  11. cue — for pool
  12. cue — a signal
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. stand — to bear
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. shower — to wash
  18. staff — employees
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. suit — to fit
  21. shower — rain
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. cue — a hint
  24. branch — of a bank

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