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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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Word bank
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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. can — a tin
  3. spell — a short time
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. drill — a practice
  6. bank — for money
  7. bank — for money
  8. drill — army training
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. spell — letters
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. bank — of a river
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. can — a tin
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. spell — magic
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. can — to be able to
  22. drill — the tool
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. safe — out of danger

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