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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: file · perch · chip · net · branch · rest · safe · leaves

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. net — in sport
  4. file — a tool
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. rest — a break
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. file — a document
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. chip — for betting
  12. net — for catching
  13. chip — to eat
  14. rest — what's left
  15. file — a line of people
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. perch — the fish
  21. branch — a division
  22. net — after costs
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. rest — what's left

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