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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: safe · date · hide · drill · lash · pass · branch · perch

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. drill — army training
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. drill — the tool
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. branch — a division
  10. pass — a permit
  11. date — the fruit
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. drill — a practice
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. date — on the calendar

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