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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 refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. staff — employees
  3. mug — a face
  4. branch — a division
  5. staff — a stick
  6. mug — to rob
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. mate — to breed
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. mate — a friend
  14. saw — the tool
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mate — a partner
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. staff — employees
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. saw — the tool

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