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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: branch · safe · mouse · court · toast · rash · foot · can

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. can — a tin
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. can — a tin
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. foot — a measure
  9. can — to be able to
  10. toast — bread
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. rash — hasty
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. court — of a king
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. court — of law
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. court — for sport
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. branch — a division

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