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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: craft · branch · rush · toast · season · chip · mark · arm

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. season — of the year
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. toast — bread
  10. season — in sport
  11. craft — a skill
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. branch — a division
  15. mark — a trace
  16. chip — for betting
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. craft — boats
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. chip — to eat
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. arm — part of the body

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