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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 · leaves · safe · bass · dip · swing · wax · bulb

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. swing — to play on
  5. branch — a division
  6. dip — to sink
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. swing — in golf
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. bulb — for light
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. swing — music
  16. bass — low music
  17. wax — to grow
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bulb — for light
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. dip — to dunk

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