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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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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: wave · deal · wound · pass · ball · branch · cue · club

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. club — for dancing
  5. pass — a permit
  6. ball — a great time
  7. deal — to handle
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. cue — a signal
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. club — a group
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. cue — for pool
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. ball — a dance
  17. cue — a hint
  18. branch — a division
  19. wound — an injury
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. wound — an injury
  22. club — for golf
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. deal — a big deal

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