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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: leaves · suit · key · branch · hide · spring · object · ground

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. object — an aim
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. ground — a position
  5. key — for a lock
  6. suit — to fit
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. key — the most important part
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. ground — the earth
  13. spring — of water
  14. key — in music
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. suit — in cards
  17. object — to protest
  18. object — a thing
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. spring — the season
  21. branch — a division
  22. spring — a coil
  23. ground — crushed
  24. leaves — to go away

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