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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 people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. can — a tin
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. branch — a division
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. chest — of your body
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. can — to be able to
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. staff — employees
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. can — a tin
  14. deal — to handle
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. staff — a stick
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. chest — of your body
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. chest — a box
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. staff — employees

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