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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: fan · perch · track · pass · game · object · ball · branch

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. track — to keep track
  4. branch — a division
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. ball — a dance
  7. track — a path
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. perch — the fish
  11. ball — a great time
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. game — wild animals
  14. game — a match
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. pass — a permit
  17. object — a thing
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. track — a song
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. object — to protest

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