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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
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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: dip · pass · lie · craft · mouse · stand · branch · content

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pass — a permit
  4. branch — a division
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. content — happy
  9. lie — to recline
  10. craft — boats
  11. craft — a skill
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. stand — to bear
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. dip — to sink
  19. content — the amount
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. lie — an untruth

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