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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. game — a match
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. key — for a lock
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. key — in music
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. bear — the animal
  12. branch — a division
  13. sharp — clever
  14. game — wild animals
  15. bear — the animal
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. roll — a list
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. key — the most important part
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. roll — a cake
  24. bear — to put up with

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