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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: scale · current · row · mark · craft · leaves · branch · dip

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. craft — a skill
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. row — a line
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. row — to paddle
  8. craft — boats
  9. scale — in music
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. current — electric
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. current — of water
  14. scale — size or range
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. mark — a trace
  17. mark — a grade
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. current — happening now
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. branch — a division
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. craft — a handicraft

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