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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
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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 · rush · race · branch · season · lash · rock · straw

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. rock — music
  5. season — of the year
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. race — the arms race
  8. season — in sport
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. straw — a straw man
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. race — a contest
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. rock — a stone
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. race — humankind
  22. rush — hurry
  23. straw — to clutch at straws
  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