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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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bound — certain
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. suit — in cards
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. file — a line of people
  8. bound — obliged
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. suit — to fit
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. club — for dancing
  13. bound — tied together
  14. club — a group
  15. club — for golf
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. branch — a division
  19. file — a tool
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. suit — clothes
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. branch — of a bank

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