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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. scale — size or range
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. squash — to crush
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rock — a stone
  9. scale — in music
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. rock — music
  13. squash — the sport
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. court — of a king
  17. pit — a hole
  18. wax — to grow
  19. pit — in a race
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. branch — a division
  22. court — for sport
  23. court — of law
  24. branch — of a bank

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