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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. bank — for money
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. rock — music
  5. fork — in a road
  6. scale — size or range
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. drill — army training
  9. prune — to trim
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. bank — for money
  13. scale — in music
  14. rock — a stone
  15. drill — the tool
  16. prune — to trim
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. branch — a division
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bank — of a river
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. safe — out of danger

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