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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: fall · spell · branch · rock · bass · drill · safe · coach

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. fall — to drop
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. branch — a division
  7. drill — the tool
  8. rock — a stone
  9. fall — the season
  10. spell — letters
  11. drill — a practice
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. spell — magic
  15. bass — low music
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. bass — the fish
  19. spell — a short time
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. rock — music
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. fall — to drop

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