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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.

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: stick · plane · roll · track · branch · bay · prune · game

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. track — a song
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. track — a path
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. prune — to trim
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. roll — a list
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. plane — a tool
  14. game — a match
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. track — to keep track
  19. game — wild animals
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. prune — to trim
  22. roll — a cake
  23. branch — a division
  24. game — a kind of play

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