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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 · toast · pop · bank · saw · bear · temple · swing

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — the animal
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bank — of a river
  7. bank — for money
  8. swing — to play on
  9. saw — the tool
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. pop — to visit
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. pop — music
  14. branch — a division
  15. swing — in golf
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bank — for money
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. pop — soda
  24. toast — bread

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