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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: suit · staff · wind · safe · temple · foot · key · branch

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  23. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. staff — employees
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. suit — to fit
  12. suit — in cards
  13. key — for a lock
  14. staff — a stick
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. key — in music
  17. wind — moving air
  18. staff — employees
  19. suit — clothes
  20. key — the most important part
  21. branch — a division
  22. wind — moving air
  23. wind — to turn a key
  24. foot — a measure

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