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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mate — to breed
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. cue — a signal
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. mate — a partner
  9. lie — to recline
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. cue — for pool
  12. stem — to come from
  13. bound — obliged
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. bound — certain
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. cue — a hint
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. mate — a friend
  22. bound — tied together
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. branch — a division

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