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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: safe · stand · branch · lash · land · foot · chest · bowl

  1. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  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. chest — of your body
  2. branch — a division
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. chest — of your body
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. stand — to bear
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. land — a country
  11. chest — a box
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. land — to come down
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. land — ground
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. foot — a measure
  23. foot — the bottom
  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