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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.

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: nail · safe · branch · game · perch · lie · current · racket

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. branch — a division
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. lie — to recline
  8. current — of water
  9. game — a match
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. perch — the fish
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. current — electric
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. game — wild animals

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