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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  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. branch — a division
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. rest — a break
  5. current — happening now
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. current — electric
  10. rule — government
  11. current — of water
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rule — to rule out
  15. rule — a law
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. rest — what's left
  23. pitch — completely
  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