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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.

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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: bowl · plane · bank · stock · cue · perch · sharp · branch

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. cue — a hint
  4. stock — shares
  5. bank — for money
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. bank — for money
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. cue — a signal
  11. bank — of a river
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. perch — the fish
  14. sharp — clever
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. stock — goods
  19. cue — for pool
  20. branch — a division
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. plane — a tool
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. sharp — with an edge

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