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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 120 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 · object · branch · snap · pitcher · mug · rock · mine

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. mine — for digging
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. rock — a stone
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. object — a thing
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. object — an aim
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. mug — a face
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. object — to protest
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. mug — a cup
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. rock — music
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. snap — to click
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. mug — to rob
  24. mine — belonging to me

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