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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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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 chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. pop — soda
  3. club — for golf
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. toast — bread
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. branch — a division
  11. club — a group
  12. pop — to visit
  13. pop — music
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. deal — to handle
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lie — to recline
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. club — for dancing
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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