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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.

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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: roll · branch · spell · can · chip · suit · stock · leaves

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. can — a tin
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. roll — a list
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. spell — a short time
  10. roll — a cake
  11. can — a tin
  12. spell — magic
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. chip — to eat
  17. chip — for betting
  18. suit — in cards
  19. suit — to fit
  20. suit — clothes
  21. can — to be able to
  22. stock — shares
  23. branch — a division
  24. stock — goods

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