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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. object — a thing
  4. mate — a friend
  5. object — to protest
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. spring — a coil
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. spring — the season
  10. object — an aim
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. net — after costs
  14. spring — of water
  15. net — for catching
  16. net — in sport
  17. mark — a grade
  18. branch — a division
  19. mate — to breed
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. mate — a partner

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