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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.

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: branch · season · fall · wake · safe · fine · stick · fan

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. season — of the year
  3. fine — high quality
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. fine — all right
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. season — in sport
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. wake — a trail
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. fall — the season
  21. fall — to drop
  22. branch — a division
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. fall — to drop

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