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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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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: roll · stick · rock · firm · bay · clip · bank · branch

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  18. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. firm — a company
  3. bank — of a river
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. branch — a division
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. roll — a list
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. bank — for money
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. bank — for money
  14. firm — decided
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. clip — a video
  18. clip — to cut
  19. firm — steady
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. clip — for paper
  23. roll — a cake
  24. rock — music

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