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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: scale · branch · dip · mug · bound · mark · field · bay

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. mark — a trace
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. scale — size or range
  7. bound — certain
  8. field — for sport
  9. mug — a cup
  10. bound — tied together
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. dip — to sink
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. mug — a face
  16. field — a subject
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. mark — a grade
  20. bound — obliged
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. scale — in music
  23. mug — to rob
  24. field — farmland

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