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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.

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: safe · branch · pop · band · shower · row · toast · pass

  1. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. shower — to wash
  4. pop — soda
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. pass — a permit
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. pop — to visit
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. branch — a division
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. row — to paddle
  15. band — a ring
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. pop — music
  19. band — a music group
  20. toast — bread
  21. row — a line
  22. shower — rain
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. row — a quarrel

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