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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bay · hand · chair · branch · hide · land · spell · safe

  1. When are we going to ________________?
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. branch — a division
  4. spell — a short time
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. hand — help
  8. land — a country
  9. spell — magic
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. spell — letters
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. chair — to sit on
  18. land — ground
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. hand — in cards
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. chair — a leader

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