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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: bark · safe · trunk · branch · mate · chip · fine · wake

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. bark — to shout
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. wake — a trail
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. chip — to eat
  9. mate — to breed
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. mate — a partner
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. branch — a division
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. fine — all right
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. fine — high quality
  23. mate — a friend
  24. bark — of a tree

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