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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mate · branch · bore · season · stock · safe · mug · firm

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. firm — steady
  3. stock — goods
  4. branch — a division
  5. firm — a company
  6. season — of the year
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. bore — to tire
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. mug — a face
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. season — in sport
  13. mug — a cup
  14. firm — decided
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. mate — a friend
  17. stock — shares
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mate — to breed
  23. mate — a partner
  24. bore — to drill

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