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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. saw — the tool
  4. current — electric
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. content — happy
  7. press — newspapers
  8. bulb — for light
  9. press — a publisher
  10. mate — a partner
  11. branch — a division
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. mate — a friend
  14. current — of water
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. bulb — for light
  17. press — to push
  18. saw — the tool
  19. content — the amount
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. mate — to breed
  23. current — happening now
  24. bulb — of a plant

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