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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. bore — to drill
  9. cue — a signal
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. wound — an injury
  14. cue — a hint
  15. deal — to handle
  16. bore — to tire
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. cue — for pool
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. branch — a division
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. wound — an injury

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