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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. branch — a division
  3. mate — a partner
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. can — a tin
  9. kid — child
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — electric
  12. can — to be able to
  13. current — of water
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. kid — to tease
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. mate — a friend
  19. can — a tin
  20. stem — to come from
  21. snap — to click
  22. mate — to breed
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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