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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 120 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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. club — for golf
  4. rash — hasty
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. shower — rain
  7. rash — a series
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. club — a group
  10. staff — employees
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. bear — the animal
  13. club — for dancing
  14. staff — employees
  15. branch — a division
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. shower — to wash
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. staff — a stick
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. bear — the animal
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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