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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: mouse · rush · ball · dip · bore · foot · safe · branch

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. branch — a division
  9. bore — to tire
  10. foot — a measure
  11. ball — a great time
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. rush — hurry
  14. ball — a dance
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. bore — to drill
  24. dip — to sink

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