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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. foot — a measure
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. plane — a tool
  7. field — farmland
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. stand — to bear
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. branch — a division
  16. pass — a permit
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. rush — hurry
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. field — for sport
  23. field — a subject
  24. rush — a thrill

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