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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 116 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: deal · trunk · branch · safe · mug · tube · fine · plane

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  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. deal — a big deal
  2. deal — to handle
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. fine — all right
  8. mug — a cup
  9. mug — to rob
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. mug — a face
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. plane — a tool
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. fine — high quality
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. branch — a division
  21. tube — a container
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. tube — the underground
  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