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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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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: suit · branch · dip · roll · key · bulb · wake · season

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. bulb — for light
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. season — of the year
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. suit — clothes
  8. wake — a trail
  9. roll — a list
  10. season — in sport
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. roll — a cake
  14. key — for a lock
  15. key — the most important part
  16. dip — to sink
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. suit — to fit
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. key — in music
  24. suit — in cards

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