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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · root · fork · hide · coach · bass · rush · branch

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. bass — the fish
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. root — of a plant
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. rush — hurry
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. root — the cause
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. branch — a division
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. bass — low music
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. root — of a word
  24. fork — in a road

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