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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.

Make a worksheet

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: fan · branch · bay · arm · safe · cabinet · coach · mouse

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. branch — a division
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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