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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: pass · spring · clip · branch · coach · leaves · bank · fan

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Hold the papers together with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. branch — a division
  5. spring — the season
  6. bank — for money
  7. clip — to cut
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. bank — of a river
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. spring — of water
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. bank — for money
  16. spring — a coil
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. pass — a permit
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. clip — for paper

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