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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. rest — what's left
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. can — to be able to
  7. bank — for money
  8. craft — a skill
  9. can — a tin
  10. bank — for money
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. can — a tin
  13. rest — what's left
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. branch — a division
  22. bank — of a river
  23. rest — a break
  24. craft — boats

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