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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: safe · branch · cap · charge · track · deal · toast · nail

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. track — a path
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. charge — electricity
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. branch — a division
  10. charge — in control
  11. track — a song
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. cap — of ice
  14. deal — to handle
  15. cap — a hat
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. track — to keep track
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. charge — a price
  21. cap — a lid
  22. toast — bread
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. branch — of a tree

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