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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: branch · object · cap · roll · track · rock · staff · march

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. object — to protest
  5. cap — a lid
  6. cap — of ice
  7. march — the month
  8. march — music
  9. branch — a division
  10. rock — music
  11. rock — a stone
  12. staff — employees
  13. march — the month
  14. roll — a cake
  15. track — a song
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. cap — a hat
  18. track — to keep track
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. staff — a stick
  21. object — a thing
  22. roll — a list
  23. track — a path
  24. staff — employees

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