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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: roll · firm · deal · rock · branch · safe · rush · stand

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. stand — to bear
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. firm — decided
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. roll — a cake
  8. deal — to handle
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. rush — hurry
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. rock — music
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. rock — a stone
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. firm — a company
  20. branch — a division
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. roll — a list
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. safe — out of danger

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