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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
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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: tube · pass · branch · cell · content · coach · roll · firm

  1. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. He was locked up in a ________________.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. roll — a cake
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. pass — a permit
  8. content — happy
  9. cell — in a prison
  10. content — the amount
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. roll — a list
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. firm — a company
  16. tube — a container
  17. cell — in biology
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. firm — steady
  20. branch — a division
  21. firm — decided
  22. tube — the underground
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. pass — to succeed

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