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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 120 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: perch · current · branch · bound · racket · land · fork · mark

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. branch — a division
  5. mark — a trace
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. fork — in a road
  8. land — to come down
  9. current — of water
  10. land — a country
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. bound — certain
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. perch — the fish
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. bound — tied together
  17. current — electric
  18. mark — a grade
  19. current — happening now
  20. bound — obliged
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. land — ground
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. racket — for tennis

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