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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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. lie — to recline
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. charge — electricity
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. mate — a friend
  14. charge — a price
  15. branch — a division
  16. charge — in control
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. mate — to breed
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. mate — a partner
  24. calf — of the leg

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