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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: fan · rash · suit · bear · march · bank · squash · branch

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. squash — to crush
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bear — the animal
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. bank — for money
  7. march — the month
  8. suit — to fit
  9. bank — of a river
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. suit — clothes
  13. march — the month
  14. rash — a series
  15. squash — the sport
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. rash — hasty
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. branch — a division
  22. suit — in cards
  23. bank — for money
  24. bear — to put up with

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