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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: suit · date · cell · lean · branch · safe · object · temple

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. He was locked up in a ________________.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. date — the fruit
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. suit — to fit
  5. object — a thing
  6. cell — in a prison
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. lean — thin
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. object — to protest
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. cell — in biology
  16. object — an aim
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. branch — a division
  19. cell — a phone
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. lean — to bend
  22. suit — in cards
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. suit — clothes

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