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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: suit · fine · spell · key · branch · stock · safe · court

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. fine — high quality
  4. spell — letters
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. suit — clothes
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. court — of law
  11. key — for a lock
  12. fine — all right
  13. spell — a short time
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. branch — a division
  16. court — for sport
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. court — of a king
  19. suit — in cards
  20. key — in music
  21. stock — goods
  22. key — the most important part
  23. suit — to fit
  24. spell — magic

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