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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. squash — to crush
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. stem — to come from
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. ball — a dance
  15. band — a ring
  16. squash — the sport
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. band — a music group
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. branch — a division
  24. ball — a great time

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