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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: cap · fine · band · rock · can · branch · race · cue

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  16. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. cap — of ice
  4. rock — a stone
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. cue — a signal
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. can — a tin
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. race — a contest
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. cue — a hint
  13. cap — a lid
  14. fine — all right
  15. race — humankind
  16. race — the arms race
  17. can — a tin
  18. band — a music group
  19. cue — for pool
  20. band — a ring
  21. fine — high quality
  22. branch — a division
  23. cap — a hat
  24. can — to be able to

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