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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: suit · calf · net · branch · staff · safe · charge · band

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. charge — electricity
  3. band — a ring
  4. staff — employees
  5. suit — in cards
  6. suit — clothes
  7. net — in sport
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. band — a music group
  10. staff — employees
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. staff — a stick
  14. suit — to fit
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. charge — in control
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. charge — a price
  21. net — after costs
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. branch — a division
  24. calf — a young animal

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