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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.

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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: scale · safe · row · plane · pit · branch · bay · prune

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. prune — to trim
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. scale — in music
  6. branch — a division
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. row — a line
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. pit — in a race
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. pit — a hole
  20. plane — a tool
  21. prune — to trim
  22. scale — size or range
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bay — a horse colour

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