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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: file · rule · game · bank · toast · safe · branch · ball

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  9. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. rule — government
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. branch — a division
  7. ball — a dance
  8. rule — a law
  9. rule — to rule out
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. file — a document
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. game — wild animals
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. file — a tool
  16. ball — a great time
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. toast — bread
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. bank — of a river
  21. game — a match
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. file — a line of people
  24. bank — for money

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