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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. branch — a division
  3. lie — to recline
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. charge — in control
  7. current — of water
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. current — electric
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. firm — steady
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. firm — a company
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. charge — electricity
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. current — happening now
  24. charge — a price

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