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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: stock · foot · branch · safe · drill · swing · rule · key

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  13. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. swing — in golf
  3. rule — to rule out
  4. drill — a practice
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. drill — the tool
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. drill — army training
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. rule — a law
  13. rule — government
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. stock — goods
  17. stock — shares
  18. key — for a lock
  19. key — in music
  20. foot — a measure
  21. key — the most important part
  22. swing — to play on
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. swing — music

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