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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
468
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: mine · club · branch · rock · arm · net · tube · safe

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. club — for dancing
  3. net — in sport
  4. club — a group
  5. tube — a container
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rock — a stone
  9. branch — a division
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. tube — the underground
  12. mine — for digging
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. net — after costs
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. rock — music
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. club — for golf

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