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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: chair · branch · game · stick · safe · stand · key · temple

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. game — a match
  3. key — in music
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. branch — a division
  7. key — the most important part
  8. chair — to sit on
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. key — for a lock
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. game — wild animals
  15. stand — to bear
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. chair — a leader
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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