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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: mate · rash · straw · rock · nail · branch · safe · bay

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. mate — to breed
  4. rash — a series
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. straw — to clutch at straws
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. branch — a division
  12. mate — a partner
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rock — music
  15. mate — a friend
  16. rash — hasty
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. branch — of a bank

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