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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: jam · cabinet · mug · toast · suit · court · dip · branch

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. suit — clothes
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. suit — in cards
  5. suit — to fit
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. mug — a face
  10. court — of a king
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. court — for sport
  13. dip — to sink
  14. toast — bread
  15. court — of law
  16. mug — to rob
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. mug — a cup
  24. dip — to dunk

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