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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 116 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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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: lash · deal · bound · branch · pound · lie · safe · chip

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. lie — to recline
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. bound — obliged
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bound — certain
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. chip — to eat
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. branch — a division
  17. bound — tied together
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. pound — a weight
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. deal — to handle

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