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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: trunk · pass · spring · safe · stick · net · branch · tube

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. net — for catching
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. tube — the underground
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. spring — the season
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. branch — a division
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. net — in sport
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. spring — of water
  21. tube — a container
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. net — after costs
  24. pass — a permit

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