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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: bound · jam · leaves · object · bay · branch · degree · perch

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. degree — temperature
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. object — an aim
  8. degree — an amount
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. bound — tied together
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. branch — a division
  15. bound — certain
  16. bound — obliged
  17. object — a thing
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. object — to protest
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. degree — from a university
  22. perch — the fish
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. bay — a horse colour

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