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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: rock · branch · root · jam · current · scale · bank · squash

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. bank — for money
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. scale — in music
  6. root — the cause
  7. root — of a word
  8. bank — for money
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. scale — size or range
  11. bank — of a river
  12. branch — a division
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. current — happening now
  16. squash — the sport
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. squash — to crush
  20. root — of a plant
  21. rock — a stone
  22. current — electric
  23. current — of water
  24. rock — music

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