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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: season · pound · branch · foot · wave · bay · lie · can

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. can — a tin
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. pound — a weight
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. season — of the year
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. season — in sport
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. foot — a measure
  18. lie — to recline
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — to be able to
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. branch — a division

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