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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 116 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 · can · game · march · bore · lie · rush · staff

  1. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. bore — to drill
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. can — to be able to
  7. game — wild animals
  8. can — a tin
  9. staff — employees
  10. march — the month
  11. rush — hurry
  12. march — music
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. staff — a stick
  16. lie — to recline
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. can — a tin
  21. staff — employees
  22. branch — a division
  23. bore — to tire
  24. game — a match

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