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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 120 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: perch · root · suit · safe · rest · stand · shower · branch

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. root — of a word
  3. perch — the fish
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. rest — a break
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. shower — to wash
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rest — what's left
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. shower — rain
  12. suit — to fit
  13. branch — a division
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. rest — what's left
  17. root — the cause
  18. suit — clothes
  19. root — of a plant
  20. stand — to bear
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. stand — on your feet

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