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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: sharp · pit · branch · suit · present · cue · safe · content

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. cue — a signal
  3. content — happy
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. suit — in cards
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. branch — a division
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. suit — clothes
  12. suit — to fit
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. present — the time now
  15. cue — for pool
  16. present — a gift
  17. cue — a hint
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. content — the amount
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. present — there
  22. sharp — clever
  23. pit — a hole
  24. pit — in a race

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