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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
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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: chair · club · key · temple · safe · suit · date · branch

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. branch — a division
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. suit — to fit
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. suit — clothes
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. key — for a lock
  10. date — the fruit
  11. club — for golf
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. key — in music
  14. club — for dancing
  15. club — a group
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. chair — to sit on
  18. suit — in cards
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. chair — a leader
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. safe — out of danger

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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