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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · cap · pound · bass · wave · ball · track · chip

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. track — a song
  4. ball — a dance
  5. cap — a hat
  6. ball — a great time
  7. bass — low music
  8. track — to keep track
  9. track — a path
  10. cap — a lid
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. branch — a division
  15. chip — for betting
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. cap — of ice
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. bass — the fish
  24. chip — to eat

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