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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 116 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: mate · safe · pop · branch · chair · ball · scale · bulb

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. pop — music
  5. scale — in music
  6. mate — a friend
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. chair — to sit on
  9. ball — a dance
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bulb — for light
  13. ball — a great time
  14. pop — soda
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. chair — a leader
  17. pop — to visit
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. branch — a division
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. mate — to breed
  22. mate — a partner
  23. scale — size or range
  24. branch — of a tree

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