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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. staff — employees
  5. pound — for dogs
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. branch — a division
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. hand — in cards
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. toast — bread
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. fork — in a road
  16. hand — help
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. staff — employees
  19. pound — a weight
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. staff — a stick
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. branch — of a bank

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