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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
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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 · temple · saw · track · bowl · pass · wake · mark

  1. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. wake — a trail
  4. branch — a division
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. track — a path
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. track — a song
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. track — to keep track
  12. mark — a grade
  13. saw — the tool
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. mark — a trace
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. pass — a permit
  19. saw — the tool
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. bowl — a football final

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