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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 116 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: plane · clip · pitcher · racket · can · key · branch · season

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. clip — a video
  3. key — in music
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. season — of the year
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. clip — for paper
  11. season — in sport
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. can — to be able to
  14. key — for a lock
  15. plane — a tool
  16. can — a tin
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. branch — a division
  19. key — the most important part
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. clip — to cut
  24. can — a tin

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