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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. spell — magic
  4. charge — electricity
  5. spell — a short time
  6. object — to protest
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. rash — hasty
  11. object — a thing
  12. spell — letters
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. charge — in control
  15. vault — a safe
  16. charge — a price
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. rash — a series
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. branch — a division
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. object — an aim
  24. rash — on the skin

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