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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. staff — employees
  5. pass — a permit
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. degree — temperature
  8. saw — the tool
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. degree — from a university
  11. staff — a stick
  12. saw — the tool
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. branch — a division
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. staff — employees
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. suit — to fit
  21. degree — an amount
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. suit — clothes
  24. temple — a place of worship

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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