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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: toast · lie · bear · charge · net · pit · branch · safe

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. net — after costs
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. charge — electricity
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. bear — the animal
  13. net — for catching
  14. charge — in control
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. toast — bread
  17. pit — a hole
  18. lie — to recline
  19. charge — a price
  20. bear — the animal
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. net — in sport
  23. branch — a division
  24. bear — to put up with

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