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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: suit · mark · fan · bear · rush · branch · toast · chip

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. chip — to eat
  3. mark — a grade
  4. suit — in cards
  5. bear — the animal
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mark — a trace
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. chip — for betting
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. bear — the animal
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. toast — bread
  19. suit — clothes
  20. rush — hurry
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. suit — to fit
  23. rush — a thrill
  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