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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: pop · branch · leaves · rush · key · game · bear · racket

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. key — for a lock
  4. bear — the animal
  5. game — a match
  6. branch — a division
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. game — wild animals
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. bear — the animal
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. pop — to visit
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. key — in music
  18. pop — soda
  19. key — the most important part
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. rush — hurry
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. pop — 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