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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.

Make a worksheet

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: rock · branch · pitcher · drill · safe · bulb · perch · kick

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. drill — the tool
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. kick — a thrill
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. branch — a division
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. drill — a practice
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. bulb — for light
  18. perch — the fish
  19. bulb — for light
  20. rock — music
  21. rock — a stone
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. kick — in football
  24. pitcher — a jug

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