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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: lie · nail · suit · press · chest · chip · branch · safe

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. chip — for betting
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. chest — a box
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. press — newspapers
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. chest — of your body
  9. suit — clothes
  10. press — to push
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. chest — of your body
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. lie — to recline
  18. branch — a division
  19. press — a publisher
  20. chip — to eat
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. suit — in cards
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. suit — to fit

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