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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: current · branch · safe · pitcher · ball · foot · wound · snap

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. current — happening now
  7. ball — a great time
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. current — electric
  10. snap — to click
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. wound — an injury
  14. ball — a dance
  15. current — of water
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. branch — a division
  21. wound — an injury
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. foot — a measure
  24. ball — a round shape

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