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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 120 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: row · wake · scale · safe · board · ball · branch · racket

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. wake — a trail
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. ball — a great time
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. row — a line
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. board — to get on
  14. ball — a dance
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. row — to paddle
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. board — a committee
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. branch — a division
  23. scale — size or range
  24. branch — of a bank

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