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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: mug · key · rush · fan · spring · branch · suit · bound

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. spring — the season
  3. branch — a division
  4. mug — a face
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. spring — of water
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. rush — hurry
  9. key — for a lock
  10. bound — tied together
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. suit — to fit
  13. bound — certain
  14. suit — clothes
  15. bound — obliged
  16. key — the most important part
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. spring — a coil
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mug — a cup
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. key — in music

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