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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 120 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 · branch · spring · bound · rest · arm · spell · staff

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. rest — what's left
  3. spring — of water
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. spring — the season
  6. spell — magic
  7. rest — what's left
  8. bound — obliged
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. spell — letters
  12. spell — a short time
  13. bound — tied together
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. spring — a coil
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. branch — a division
  19. rest — a break
  20. staff — employees
  21. staff — a stick
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. bound — certain

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