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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: jam · rash · safe · lie · ball · stock · leaves · branch

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. ball — a great time
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. stock — shares
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. rash — hasty
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. branch — a division
  12. lie — to recline
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. rash — a series
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. ball — a dance
  24. stock — goods

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