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

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  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. cabinet — ministers
  2. branch — a division
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. lie — to recline
  5. wake — a trail
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. squash — the sport
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. squash — to crush
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. bore — to tire
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. bore — to drill
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. safe — out of danger
  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