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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. cue — for pool
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. chip — to eat
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. fine — high quality
  10. cue — a signal
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. bulb — for light
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. chip — for betting
  16. cue — a hint
  17. fine — all right
  18. bulb — for light
  19. can — a tin
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. branch — a division
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. can — to be able to

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