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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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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: board · perch · bank · safe · squash · prune · nail · present

  1. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. squash — to crush
  5. squash — the sport
  6. perch — the fish
  7. bank — for money
  8. present — the time now
  9. bank — of a river
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. board — a committee
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. prune — to trim
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. bank — for money
  19. present — a gift
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. present — there
  22. board — to get on
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. safe — out of danger

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