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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: branch · march · pitch · key · leaves · safe · lie · rush

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. key — for a lock
  7. branch — a division
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. march — music
  10. rush — hurry
  11. key — in music
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. key — the most important part
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. march — the month
  23. march — the month
  24. lie — to recline

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