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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. bound — certain
  3. bound — tied together
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. net — for catching
  6. net — in sport
  7. branch — a division
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. net — after costs
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. dip — to sink
  14. mate — a partner
  15. bound — obliged
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. stem — to come from
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. mate — to breed
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. mate — a friend

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