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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. mate — a partner
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. mate — to breed
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. deal — to handle
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. fine — high quality
  10. court — of law
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. perch — the fish
  13. branch — a division
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. current — of water
  17. current — happening now
  18. court — of a king
  19. court — for sport
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. mate — a friend
  22. current — electric
  23. fine — all right
  24. deal — an agreement

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