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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 · plane · pitcher · spell · wound · can · jam · deal

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. wound — an injury
  3. spell — letters
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. deal — to handle
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. spell — a short time
  17. can — a tin
  18. spell — magic
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. can — a tin
  21. wound — an injury
  22. branch — a division
  23. can — to be able to
  24. plane — a tool

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