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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · cabinet · leaves · net · cue · race · chair · track

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. branch — a division
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. net — for catching
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. cue — a signal
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. cue — for pool
  10. track — a song
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. net — after costs
  13. net — in sport
  14. cue — a hint
  15. track — to keep track
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. track — a path
  18. race — humankind
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. race — a contest
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. chair — a leader
  24. race — the arms race

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