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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 116 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: firm · deal · ball · branch · rock · bulb · scale · rash

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. bulb — for light
  4. scale — size or range
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. firm — decided
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. rash — a series
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. rock — music
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rash — hasty
  13. deal — to handle
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. ball — a dance
  16. ball — a great time
  17. bulb — for light
  18. firm — steady
  19. firm — a company
  20. scale — in music
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. rock — a stone
  24. deal — an agreement

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