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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 has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  6. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  7. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. clip — for paper
  6. clip — a video
  7. wind — moving air
  8. suit — in cards
  9. suit — to fit
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. pass — a permit
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. wind — moving air
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. wind — to turn a key
  19. suit — clothes
  20. saw — the tool
  21. branch — a division
  22. saw — the tool
  23. clip — to cut
  24. safe — out of danger

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