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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 · clip · branch · safe · bark · pass · cabinet · plane

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. current — of water
  4. clip — a video
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. plane — a tool
  7. bark — to shout
  8. clip — to cut
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pass — a permit
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. branch — a division
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. current — happening now
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. current — electric
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. clip — for paper
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. plane — in geometry

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