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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.

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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: safe · file · branch · ball · bulb · saw · charge · snap

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. bulb — for light
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. charge — electricity
  10. file — a document
  11. saw — the tool
  12. charge — in control
  13. ball — a great time
  14. snap — to click
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. charge — a price
  20. ball — a dance
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. file — a tool
  23. file — a line of people
  24. branch — a division

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