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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: snap · prune · chip · pop · rest · pit · temple · branch

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. rest — what's left
  5. pop — to visit
  6. prune — to trim
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. pop — soda
  10. pop — music
  11. chip — for betting
  12. pit — in a race
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. chip — to eat
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. rest — what's left
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. rest — a break
  20. prune — to trim
  21. pit — a hole
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. snap — to click
  24. temple — a place of worship

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