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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: court · jam · deal · scale · lean · safe · branch · bear

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. court — for sport
  4. scale — in music
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. court — of a king
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. deal — to handle
  10. branch — a division
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. lean — thin
  13. scale — size or range
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. lean — to bend
  16. court — of law
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. bear — the animal
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. lean — to rest against

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