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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 refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. mug — to rob
  4. branch — a division
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. prune — to trim
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. scale — in music
  13. scale — size or range
  14. fork — in a road
  15. rock — a stone
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. rock — music
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. prune — to trim
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. mug — a face
  24. scale — for weighing

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