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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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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: fall · track · leaves · safe · squash · can · net · branch

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. net — in sport
  4. net — for catching
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. branch — a division
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. can — to be able to
  11. fall — the season
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. squash — the sport
  15. squash — to crush
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. fall — to drop
  18. can — a tin
  19. track — a song
  20. can — a tin
  21. track — to keep track
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. fall — to drop
  24. net — after costs

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