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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: wax · bank · present · game · pop · safe · branch · arm

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. game — wild animals
  3. wax — to grow
  4. branch — a division
  5. present — there
  6. pop — to visit
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. present — the time now
  10. bank — of a river
  11. pop — soda
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. pop — music
  17. game — a match
  18. bank — for money
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. bank — for money
  22. present — a gift
  23. branch — of a tree
  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