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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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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: temple · safe · branch · wound · toast · perch · bat · cue

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. cue — for pool
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bat — the animal
  7. cue — a hint
  8. perch — the fish
  9. bat — in an idiom
  10. wound — an injury
  11. wound — an injury
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. bat — for baseball
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. cue — a signal
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. branch — a division
  21. toast — bread
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. safe — out of danger

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