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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. branch — a division
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. shower — rain
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. vault — a safe
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. prune — to trim
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. shower — to wash
  24. prune — to trim

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