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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 protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. lean — thin
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. net — in sport
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. charge — a price
  9. rule — a law
  10. charge — in control
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. net — for catching
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. charge — electricity
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. toast — bread
  19. net — after costs
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. rule — government
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. branch — a division
  24. lean — to bend

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