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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 · can · spell · ground · track · rush · key · date

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. ground — a position
  3. ground — crushed
  4. key — the most important part
  5. track — a path
  6. ground — the earth
  7. track — a song
  8. branch — a division
  9. rush — hurry
  10. spell — a short time
  11. spell — magic
  12. can — to be able to
  13. key — in music
  14. track — to keep track
  15. can — a tin
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. date — the fruit
  19. spell — letters
  20. key — for a lock
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. can — a tin
  24. rush — to hurry

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