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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.

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: arm · scale · bound · safe · mouse · branch · lash · dip

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. branch — a division
  6. bound — obliged
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. scale — in music
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bound — certain
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bound — tied together
  15. dip — to sink
  16. scale — size or range
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. scale — for weighing

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