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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. can — a tin
  3. toast — bread
  4. can — a tin
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. mark — a grade
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. mark — a trace
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. can — to be able to
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. face — to point toward
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. root — of a word
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. face — part of the head
  17. face — to confront
  18. pitch — completely
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. root — the cause
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. root — of a plant
  24. branch — a division

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