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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: toast · rush · branch · rock · scale · ground · craft · cue

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. craft — boats
  3. cue — for pool
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. ground — crushed
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. cue — a hint
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. cue — a signal
  13. branch — a division
  14. rush — hurry
  15. scale — size or range
  16. ground — the earth
  17. rock — music
  18. scale — in music
  19. craft — a skill
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. toast — bread

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