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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: mine · foot · stand · branch · safe · cell · can · leaves

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. can — to be able to
  4. cell — a phone
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. branch — a division
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. mine — for digging
  12. can — a tin
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. stand — to bear
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. cell — in biology
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. foot — a measure
  23. can — a tin
  24. safe — out of danger

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