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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: face · branch · net · bank · hide · safe · can · hand

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. bank — for money
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. hand — help
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. face — part of the head
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. net — for catching
  10. bank — for money
  11. face — to point toward
  12. face — to confront
  13. net — in sport
  14. can — a tin
  15. net — after costs
  16. can — to be able to
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. can — a tin
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. hand — in cards
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. branch — a division
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. bank — of a river

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