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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.

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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: pitch · temple · club · rest · safe · fan · branch · chair

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. rest — a break
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. rest — what's left
  7. chair — a leader
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rest — what's left
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. pitch — completely
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. club — a group
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. club — for golf
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. club — for dancing

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