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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 · current · tube · season · race · leaves · bore · content

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. season — in sport
  3. content — the amount
  4. current — happening now
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. current — electric
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. bore — to drill
  10. current — of water
  11. race — a contest
  12. bore — to tire
  13. race — humankind
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. branch — a division
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. race — the arms race
  21. season — of the year
  22. tube — the underground
  23. tube — a container
  24. content — happy

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