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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.

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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. mug — to rob
  4. track — a path
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. branch — a division
  7. face — to confront
  8. face — to point toward
  9. mug — a face
  10. foot — a measure
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. mug — a cup
  13. stand — to bear
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. track — to keep track
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. track — a song
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. face — part of the head

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