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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 124 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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. current — electric
  7. file — a line of people
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. fine — high quality
  13. current — of water
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. fine — all right
  17. branch — a division
  18. current — happening now
  19. wax — to grow
  20. file — a tool
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. file — a document
  24. hide — to keep secret

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