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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 reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. branch — a division
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. root — of a word
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. bound — obliged
  13. foot — a measure
  14. bound — certain
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. squash — to crush
  18. squash — the sport
  19. root — of a plant
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. root — the cause
  22. stand — to bear
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. squash — the vegetable

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