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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: branch · safe · rock · chest · deal · wax · game · calf

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  9. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. rock — a stone
  4. wax — to grow
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. deal — to handle
  8. chest — of your body
  9. chest — of your body
  10. rock — music
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. branch — a division
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. game — wild animals
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. chest — a box
  24. game — a match

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