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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. can — a tin
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. spring — of water
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. season — of the year
  9. season — in sport
  10. can — a tin
  11. spring — the season
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. firm — steady
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. spring — a coil
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. firm — decided
  21. can — to be able to
  22. branch — a division
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. temple — side of the head

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