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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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. branch — of a tree
  4. season — in sport
  5. capital — money
  6. stem — to come from
  7. capital — a city
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. tube — the underground
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. suit — clothes
  12. suit — to fit
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. suit — in cards
  15. season — of the year
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. branch — a division
  18. tube — a container
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. capital — a big letter
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. safe — a strongbox

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