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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: tube · saw · rush · temple · bound · mate · leaves · branch

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. mate — a partner
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. saw — the tool
  10. mate — a friend
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. bound — obliged
  13. rush — hurry
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. mate — to breed
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. bound — tied together
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. bound — certain
  21. saw — the tool
  22. tube — a container
  23. rush — a thrill
  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