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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: chair · toast · bound · can · track · branch · safe · mug

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. track — a path
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bound — certain
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. branch — a division
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. toast — bread
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. bound — obliged
  13. can — a tin
  14. track — a song
  15. mug — to rob
  16. chair — a leader
  17. can — a tin
  18. track — to keep track
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. can — to be able to
  21. bound — tied together
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. mug — a face
  24. mug — a cup

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