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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: bank · branch · pop · safe · clip · wake · plane · scale

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. clip — for paper
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. scale — size or range
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. pop — to visit
  9. bank — for money
  10. clip — to cut
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. plane — a tool
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. pop — soda
  15. pop — music
  16. branch — a division
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bank — of a river
  19. clip — a video
  20. bank — for money
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. scale — in music

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